All-round Shakib secures Dhaka’s victory in BPL

An all-round performance from skipper Shakib Al Hasan playing for Dhaka Dynamites managed a 43-run victory over Rangpur Riders in the 41st match of AKS Bangladesh Premier League T20 held on Wednesday Sher-e-Bangla National Cricke Stadium at Mirpur.

With this victory, Dhaka Dynamites finished second position in the points table with 15 points from 12 matches and play the first qualifier against table topper Comilla Victorians while Rangpur Riders remained at fourth position with their previous credit of 12 points from the same number of outings will play against Khulna Titans in the eliminator, according to a news agency.

Both the matches will be held on Friday (December 8).

Chasing a winning target of 138-run set by Dhaka Dynamites, Rangpur Riders found the chase stiff and eventually they were restricted at a paltry total of 94 for 7 in 20 overs.

English batsman Ravi Bopara top scored with an u beaten 28-run off 30 balls laced with one boundary and one over boundary while opener Johnson Charles, the second highest scorer, added 26-run off 30-ball laced with two over boundaries.

Nahidul Islam (13) was the other Rangpur batsman who was able to reach the double figure.

Shakib Al Hasan and Abu Haider bagged two wickets each conceding 13 and 23 runs respectively.

Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan was named the player of the match for his brilliant all-round performance in the match.

Earlier, bowlers restricted defending champions Dhaka Dynamites at a decent total of 137 for 7 from their allotted 20 overs, after they opted to bat first.

Dhaka suffered early batting collapse as they lost five wickets in 48 runs in the scoreboard. Then Dhaka Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan came to crease to take the responsibility on his shoulder as the ace all rounder smashed 33-ball off 47 runs after a whimsical batting display from the rest of his teammates.

Mehedi Maruf supported him with a priceless 23-ball 33 and also paired an important 53-run sixth-wicket stand with Shakib to take the team's to a decent total.

Opener Evin Lewis (14) was the next highest score while Mosaddek Hossain with 10 was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Pacers Rubel Hossain and Ebadat Hossain, playing his first BPL match, took two wickets each conceding 32 and 337 runs respectively but came under fire from Shakib at the end.