Khulna win a low-scoring thriller

Mahmudullah leads the team from front

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad led the team from the front, defending six runs in the last over to help Khulna Titans secure a three-run victory in a low-scoring thriller against Rajshahi Kings in their BPL-4 opening match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday. 

Riyad took three wickets in four balls as Rajshahi Kings were all out for 130 after Khulna Titans posted a mediocre 133 for eight to throw the match in what was considered to be an easier target. 
Fast bowler Abul Hasan Raju snapped up his career best five for 28 to help the Kings give a soft target but his stellar effort went in vain following the batting debacle. 
Mominul Haque who opened the innings for Kings battled lonely to score 57 ball-64, only the batsman either side to hit a fifty but was out when his side was 14 runs away from the victory with 16 balls at hands. His shuffle across the stump led his downfall and let his team down also.
Only two other batsmen of Kings reached the double digit figure with captain Darren Sammy scoring 23 ball-31 and Samit Patel making 10.  
Titans Pakistan recruit Junaid Khan made the seemingly easy task tougher for Kings, claiming three wickets in his first two overs that left the Kings  tittering 24 for three. Mominul Haque however made two significant partnerships—35 with Samit Patel and 52 with Sammy to bring back the side in a position of dominance. 
Shafiul Islam however titled the match towards Titans, getting rid of Sammy and Mominul in the same over. From that point it went all wrong for Kings. 
Junaid Khan was the most successful bowler for Titans with four for 23 while Riyad claimed three for six. Shafiul grabbed two for 29.
After opting to bat first, Khulna made a shaky start as Abdul Majid who debuted in T20 cricket, struggled to connect the ball properly. However Mehedi Hasan Miraj, the new star in the town, who also made his T20 debut, gave the side breakthrough with the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. Titans’ Australian recruit Riki Wessels showed his big hitting prowess to keep the scoreboard ticking amid Majid’s struggle. 
Abul Hasan Raju at this point struck to remove Wessels after he scored 32 off 22 while Samit Patel ended Majid painstaking vigil (14 off 25). Captain Mahmudullah Riyad kept hitting the balls all corner of the park right from the start but Raju also got him to resist Titans making a big score. Riyad also made 32 off 21 with three fours and one six. Later Riyad was adjudged the player of the match for defending a small total with a courageous captaincy. 
Raju then cleaned up the tail in a superb bowling show to help Kings get a gettable target but Titans had the last laugh after they executed their plan nicely. 

Khulna win a low-scoring thriller

Mahmudullah leads the team from front

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad led the team from the front, defending six runs in the last over to help Khulna Titans secure a three-run victory in a low-scoring thriller against Rajshahi Kings in their BPL-4 opening match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday. Riyad took three wickets in four balls as Rajshahi Kings were all out for 130 after Khulna Titans posted a mediocre 133 for eight to throw the match in what was considered to be an easier target. Fast bowler Abul Hasan Raju snapped up his career best five for 28 to help the Kings give a soft target but his stellar effort went in vain following the batting debacle. Mominul Haque who opened the innings for Kings battled lonely to score 57 ball-64, only the batsman either side to hit a fifty but was out when his side was 14 runs away from the victory with 16 balls at hands. His shuffle across the stump led his downfall and let his team down also. Only two other batsmen of Kings reached the double digit figure with captain Darren Sammy scoring 23 ball-31 and Samit Patel making 10. Titans Pakistan recruit Junaid Khan made the seemingly easy task tougher for Kings, claiming three wickets in his first two overs that left the Kings tittering 24 for three. Mominul Haque however made two significant partnerships35 with Samit Patel and 52 with Sammy to bring back the side in a position of dominance. Shafiul Islam however titled the match towards Titans, getting rid of Sammy and Mominul in the same over. From that point it went all wrong for Kings. Junaid Khan was the most successful bowler for Titans with four for 23 while Riyad claimed three for six. Shafiul grabbed two for 29. After opting to bat first, Khulna made a shaky start as Abdul Majid who debuted in T20 cricket, struggled to connect the ball properly. However Mehedi Hasan Miraj, the new star in the town, who also made his T20 debut, gave the side breakthrough with the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. Titans Australian recruit Riki Wessels showed his big hitting prowess to keep the scoreboard ticking amid Majids struggle. Abul Hasan Raju at this point struck to remove Wessels after he scored 32 off 22 while Samit Patel ended Majid painstaking vigil (14 off 25). Captain Mahmudullah Riyad kept hitting the balls all corner of the park right from the start but Raju also got him to resist Titans making a big score. Riyad also made 32 off 21 with three fours and one six. Later Riyad was adjudged the player of the match for defending a small total with a courageous captaincy. Raju then cleaned up the tail in a superb bowling show to help Kings get a gettable target but Titans had the last laugh after they executed their plan nicely.