DHAKA, Jan 13, 2020 (BSS)- Chattogram Challengers kept them alive for the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) as they secured a seven-wicket win over Dhaka Platoon in the Eliminator game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here today.
The outcome eliminated Dhaka from the final race straightway.
Dhaka Platoon recovered from a shaky start to compile 144-8, thanks to a whirlwind 41 ball-64 not out from Shadab Khan but the total is not enough for a relentless Chattogram who raced to 147-3 in 17.4 overs for their victory with captain Mahmudullah Riyad sealing the deal, hitting consecutive two sixes.
Chris Gayle was the highest scorer for Chattogram with 39 and though it came from 49 balls, it hardly mattered given the target was paltry for them.
Gayle’s slow-paced innings was well covered by his fellow opener Ziaur Rahman who made 25 off 12 with three fours and two sixes and Imrul Kayes’s 32 off 22, that included one four and three sixes.
Captain Mahmudullah then struck 34 not out off just 14, smashing four sixes to ensure that there wouldn’t be any hiccup in their aspiration to stay alive for the BBPL final.
With little resources, Dhaka needed an early breakthrough to impose any kind of pressure to Chattogram.
Gayle and Ziaur Rahman shared 42 runs for the opening stand to keep the team in good stead, making Dhaka’s plan in disarray state.
Even though Gayle was going slowly, following the departure of Ziaur, Kayes kept the flow before being dismissed by Shadab Khan.
Gayle was also removed by Shadab Khan without covering up his slow start as Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who was playing the game with 14 stitches with his left hand, took the catch with one hand.
With Chattogram reeling to 102-2 in 14.4 overs, it was still anybody’s game but captain Mahmudullah Riyad quelled any kind of tension, with a well-composed knock that sailed the side home without any fuss.
Chadwick Walton gave him the support with 12 not out. Shadab Khan picked up 2-32 while Mahedi Hasan grabbed 1-20. Shadab also contributed in batting to make sure that it wouldn’t be a cake-walk victory for Chattogram. The Pakistan recruit smote five fours and three sixes in his 41 ball-64 not out, highest T20 knock, which led Dhaka to amass 67 runs in the last five overs.
After being sent to bat first, Dhaka top order, sans Mominul Haque, fared badly to be reduced to 60-7 with Ryad Emrit and Rubel Hossain ripping through their batting line up.
Amongst those runs, Mominul alone scored a run-a-ball-31, with three fours and one six. Shadab then shared a 44-run partnership with Thisara Perera for the eighth wicket stand in which the latter contributed 13 ball-25 with three fours and one six.
Rubel Hossain removed Perera to give them a further setback. But Shadab remained unfazed by it and played some powerful knocks towards the end to help the side propel past 140.
Emrit claimed 3-23 while Rubel Hossain and Nasum Ahmed scalped two wickets apiece for Chattogram.