Mehedi leads Rajshahi to an epic comeback
Sports Reporter
Mehedi Hasan Miraj inspired Rajshahi Kings to a massive comeback, putting up a stellar all-round performance that saw Kings recovering from disastrous batting performance to seal a crushing 49-run win over Rangpur Riders yesterday to leave the BPL-4 point table wide open. With the side at perilous 43 for seven, Mehedi showed his batting credential when it mattered most. His epic bowling performance, coupled with his bad patch in batting in international and domestic circuit since his national debut, put a shed on his ability of a true all-rounder. When his side Rajshahi Kings were under huge threat of being shot out in a shambolic total, Mehedi showed what he is capable of. His unbeaten 41 off 33, his first double digit figure in 14 matches, including the two Test matches against England, drove the side to 128 for seven against Rangpur Riders at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Thereafter his two for 12 wrecked Riders as Kings eventually shot them out for 79 in 17.4 overs.
While Dhaka Dynamites and Khulna Titans have 12 points in nine matches, Chittagong Vikings, Rajshahi Kings and Rangpur Riders are now at par with 10 points in nine matches. Barisal Bulls have six in eight matches and still has the chance on paper while defending champions Comilla Victorians has already been eliminated from the top four race with two points in eight matches.
Mehedis first significant batting performance after his international debut might put a lid on Farhad Reza but his unbeaten 32-ball 44 was also of the similar significance.
The duo combined for an undefeated 85 runs to give the bowlers something to defend.
Earlier, Darren Sammys decision to bat first backfired as his top order crumbled under sustained pressure, put in by the Rangpur spinners. Sohag Gazi as usually delivered an economical spell after opening the bowling and created pressure what was shrewdly utilised by Arafat Sunny and Shahid Afridi.
Afridis figure of 4-0-10-2 showed how effectively he neutralised the batsman. He got two important scalps of Sabbir Rahman and Umar Akmal. Sabbir with 12 was the only batsman apart from Reza and Mehedi to reach double digit figure.
Arafat Sunnys first spell of 3-0-16-3 wrecked the havoc in the middle order alongside Afridi. He removed Samit Patel, Mominul Haque and Abul Hasan Raju.
In the last two matches, skipper Sammy was the rescuer of Kings but he couldnt replicate that form yesterday. He was undone by his opposite number Liam Dawson who led Riders in absence of Naeem Islam.
Sammy and Sabbirs dismissal in consecutive overs left Rajshahi on 43 for seven in 9.2 overs. As they were under threat of being bundled out below 50 given the way the wickets were tumbling, Mehedi and Reza stood tall to stall the progress of Riders.
Mehedi hit three fours and one six, a forehand shot off Rubel Hossain delivery that flew over the long off region. Reza smashed two fours and as many sixes, the first one against Rubel was stand outa tad full delivery that he lofted back over the blowers head delightfully.
The total from a disastrous situation inspired them more to complete the stellar comeback. And Mehedi was again in the lead. He gave the breakthrough with the wicket of Soumya Sarkar (1) to spark the collapse and then followed it with the crucial wicket of Nasir Jamshed (1). In between, Mohammad Sami got Mohammad Shahzad to leave Riders cornered on 26 for three. Mohammad Mithun, the in-form batsman of Riders once again resisted but Kings kept pushing with Nazmul Islam Opu leaving the chance of Riders at stake with the wicket of stand-in captain Liam Dawson for two and Shahid Afridi for 7. And when Patel got Mohammad Mithun for 20 to leave Rangpur Riders on 50 for six, it was all over. An effort like Mehedi and Reza was badly needed for Riders but no one from their tent could be those two as they kept floundering to give Kings chance to make an epic comeback. Nazmul Islam Opu and Abul Hasan Raju claimed three wickets apiece.
