Captain Darren Sammy led the team from the front with a blistering 71 not out as Rajshahi Kings stunned BPL-4 table topper Khulna Titans by nine runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday. Sammy’s 34 balls knock which was his highest score in T20, was studded by four fours and five imperious sixes that lifted Kings to 154 for eight. The bowlers then complemented the captain’s knock by restricting Khulna to 145 for six.
Despite the defeat, Khulna still tops the table with 12 points in nine matches while it was Rajshahi’s fourth victory in eighth match. Sammy held together the innings at a moment when Rajshahi Kings were stumbled at half way mark of the innings. His carnage ensured Rajshahi would amass 66 runs in the last five overs to throw a stiff challenge to Khulna Titans. After Sammy opted to bat first, his top order batsmen yet again showed the vulnerability to leave the side in a spot of bother.
Titans captain Mahmudullah Riyad broke through with the wicket of Mominul Haque when he got going well. And the rot began from that point. Sabbir Rahman (16), Samit Patel (16) and Umar Akmal (9), the three mainstays of middle order scored just 41 runs, much to the dismay of the team.
After the top order failed to deliver, it was a perfect platform for Mehedi Hasan Miraj to show his batting credentials. But his curse of single digit score seemed to be never-ending. After hogging the headlines with his epic bowling performance against England, Mehedi never could reach double digit figures in any format of cricket despite having a reputation of a good batsman. This time he scored just 1 before being run out to leave the side in 88 for six in 15th over.
Titans sniffed a chance to bowl opponents out for below 130 once again but Sammy ensured Mahmudullah Riyad’s side needs to have their highest successful chase so far in the tournament if they tighten the noose in the points table further.
Kevon Cooper and Shafiul Islam claimed two wickets apiece for the Khulna Titans.
Rajshahi Kings took the upperhand by reducing Titans to 15 for two in the third over before Riki Wessels and captain Mahmudullah Riyad settled the nerve. They took the side in comfort zone, combining for a 47-run partnership for the third wicket and the chase seemed to have gone in one-way direction.
Sammy however refused to give up. He himself broke the partnership with a brilliant bowling that accounted well-set Wessels for 36. Riyad got an apt support from Nicholas Pooran whose six hitting spree kept the chase alive. Pooran sent Mehedi in receiving end by hitting consecutive sixes but the youngster took the sweet revenge by removing him after scoring 28 off just 12 balls with one four and three sixes.
Abul Hasan Raju then dealt a mighty blow, dismissing Riyad who hit run-a-ball-33. Riyad’s dismissal made Rajshai favourite and they didn’t choke from there.