Challengers blow away Thunder

Kayes overshadows Mithun’s unbeaten blitzkrieg 84

Chattogram Challengers got off to a winning note when they tucked past Sylhet Thunder by five wickets in the curtain raiser of the Akash-DTH Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20-2019 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The Challengers fumbled to chase the target of 163 set by Sylhet Thunder when left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu jostled Chattogram’s ranks with his double strikes that got rid of Zunaid Siddique and Nasir Hossain.

Apu, who was famous for his snake-dance celebration that once became brand in cricket, marked his wicket-taking celebration in different way. But his new way of celebration faded away with the progress of the match.

Sri Lanka batsman Avishka Fernando came to the crease to join hands with Imbrue Kayes but West Indies bowler Krishna Santokie did not allow him to stay for longer period and preyed him to his wicket. Fernando smacked 26-ball 33 littered with three sixes and as many fours.

Imrul then partnered Ryan Burl but Mosaddek Hossain Saikat trapped him lbw. This time Imrul demolished the hurdle of Sylhet bowlers with Cadwick Walton and stitched together 86 for the fifth-wicket partnership that placed them near to victory.

Imrul completed his fifty taking one ball less than Mithun. Coincidently, it was Imrul’s ninth half-century in his T20 career unlike Mithun. Kayes, who normally bats at opening stand, became successful to get down batting at middle-order, smoked 61 off 38, hitting five sixes and two fours.

Together with Nurul Hasan Sohan, Walton slotted the team with six balls to spare. Winning run came from Sohan’s bat. Cadwick Walton struck three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 49 off 30 balls with Sohan making five.

Nazmul Islam Apu though bowled three overs finished with two wickets. Imrul Kayes was named players of the match for his batting display.

Earlier, Chattogram Challengers gave captaincy to their West Indies recruit all-rounder Rayad Emrit at the eleventh hour of the kick-off of the BPL curtain raiser rather than swapping captain repeatedly. The Challengers announced Imrul Kayes as stand-in captain for the initial two matches in place of Mahmudullah Riyad, who is struggling to be fit after being struck with hamstring injury.

Emrit opted to field first after winning the toss on Mirpur unpredictable pitch, where they restricted Sylhet Thunder to 162-4 despite Mohammad Mithun’s unbeaten blitzkrieg 84.

Pacer Rubel Hossain delivered the first breakthrough for Challengers in the fourth delivery of his first over when he sent Rony Talukdar back cheaply. West Indies opener Johnson Charles, therefore, launched his tilt against Thunder bowlers but spinner Nasum Ahmed removed him before becoming more dangerous at pitch. Before being clean bowled, Charles hammered 35 off 23 with seven boundaries.

Just 10 runs later, Sylhet mislaid Sri Lankan Jeevan Mendis. And by then, Mohammad Mithun started his devastation and cobbled together 96 with captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat for the fourth-wicket stand that finally gave them a fighting total of 162 for four on the board in the stipulated 20 overs.     

Mohammad Mithun became ruthless on Nasum Ahmed and Nasir Hossain. He clouted Nasir for six through over extra-cover to bring up his half-century from 30 balls. It was his ninth half century in his T20 career.

Mithun, who stepped into the national team through his BPL performance, pulled off 24 runs in his fourth and last over together with Saikat, who stroked 35-ball 29 with a six and as many four.  The duo compounded his expense as the spinner conceded only 10 runs in the first three overs after his expensive last over of 24 runs.

On way to his cameo innings, Mithun had a life on 36 when Zunaid Siddique spilled an easy catch at gully. Having saved from catch out, the wicketkeeper-batsman played another 18 balls and converted it 50 to 84 that was his career best innings in BPL. His classy but unbeaten knock laced with five maximums, three of which came from Nasum’s last over and four boundaries in his hour-long stay.

Pacer Rubel Hossain grabbed a brace for Chattogram Challengers, while spinner Nasum Ahmed and Rayad Emrit claimed one wicket each for the winners.

Challengers blow away Thunder

Kayes overshadows Mithuns unbeaten blitzkrieg 84

Chattogram Challengers got off to a winning note when they tucked past Sylhet Thunder by five wickets in the curtain raiser of the Akash-DTH Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20-2019 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The Challengers fumbled to chase the target of 163 set by Sylhet Thunder when left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Apu jostled Chattograms ranks with his double strikes that got rid of Zunaid Siddique and Nasir Hossain. Apu, who was famous for his snake-dance celebration that once became brand in cricket, marked his wicket-taking celebration in different way. But his new way of celebration faded away with the progress of the match. Sri Lanka batsman Avishka Fernando came to the crease to join hands with Imbrue Kayes but West Indies bowler Krishna Santokie did not allow him to stay for longer period and preyed him to his wicket. Fernando smacked 26-ball 33 littered with three sixes and as many fours. Imrul then partnered Ryan Burl but Mosaddek Hossain Saikat trapped him lbw. This time Imrul demolished the hurdle of Sylhet bowlers with Cadwick Walton and stitched together 86 for the fifth-wicket partnership that placed them near to victory. Imrul completed his fifty taking one ball less than Mithun. Coincidently, it was Imruls ninth half-century in his T20 career unlike Mithun. Kayes, who normally bats at opening stand, became successful to get down batting at middle-order, smoked 61 off 38, hitting five sixes and two fours. Together with Nurul Hasan Sohan, Walton slotted the team with six balls to spare. Winning run came from Sohans bat. Cadwick Walton struck three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 49 off 30 balls with Sohan making five. Nazmul Islam Apu though bowled three overs finished with two wickets. Imrul Kayes was named players of the match for his batting display. Earlier, Chattogram Challengers gave captaincy to their West Indies recruit all-rounder Rayad Emrit at the eleventh hour of the kick-off of the BPL curtain raiser rather than swapping captain repeatedly. The Challengers announced Imrul Kayes as stand-in captain for the initial two matches in place of Mahmudullah Riyad, who is struggling to be fit after being struck with hamstring injury. Emrit opted to field first after winning the toss on Mirpur unpredictable pitch, where they restricted Sylhet Thunder to 162-4 despite Mohammad Mithuns unbeaten blitzkrieg 84. Pacer Rubel Hossain delivered the first breakthrough for Challengers in the fourth delivery of his first over when he sent Rony Talukdar back cheaply. West Indies opener Johnson Charles, therefore, launched his tilt against Thunder bowlers but spinner Nasum Ahmed removed him before becoming more dangerous at pitch. Before being clean bowled, Charles hammered 35 off 23 with seven boundaries. Just 10 runs later, Sylhet mislaid Sri Lankan Jeevan Mendis. And by then, Mohammad Mithun started his devastation and cobbled together 96 with captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat for the fourth-wicket stand that finally gave them a fighting total of 162 for four on the board in the stipulated 20 overs. Mohammad Mithun became ruthless on Nasum Ahmed and Nasir Hossain. He clouted Nasir for six through over extra-cover to bring up his half-century from 30 balls. It was his ninth half century in his T20 career. Mithun, who stepped into the national team through his BPL performance, pulled off 24 runs in his fourth and last over together with Saikat, who stroked 35-ball 29 with a six and as many four. The duo compounded his expense as the spinner conceded only 10 runs in the first three overs after his expensive last over of 24 runs. On way to his cameo innings, Mithun had a life on 36 when Zunaid Siddique spilled an easy catch at gully. Having saved from catch out, the wicketkeeper-batsman played another 18 balls and converted it 50 to 84 that was his career best innings in BPL. His classy but unbeaten knock laced with five maximums, three of which came from Nasums last over and four boundaries in his hour-long stay. Pacer Rubel Hossain grabbed a brace for Chattogram Challengers, while spinner Nasum Ahmed and Rayad Emrit claimed one wicket each for the winners.