A fearless all-round show from Andre Russell has guided Dhaka Dynamites to a crushing 54-run win over Khulna Titans in the first qualifier for a spot in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016.
The Caribbean star anchored the Dhaka innings with a blazing knock before picking up three wickets on Tuesday to help his team secure a berth in the title-decider.
Khulna will now face Rajshahi Kings, who beat Chittagong Vikings in the eliminator cost levitra viagra cialis earlier in the day, to reach the final.
Riding on a late resistance led by Russell’s gritty 46, Dhaka posted a modest 140-8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
In reply, Mahmudullah and his men were skittled for only 86 in 16.2 overs with only two of their batsmen managing double figures.
In reply, Mahmudullah and his men were skittled for only 86 in 16.2 overs with only two of their batsmen managing double figures.
Khulna, who had chased down Dhaka’s 158 in their last pool match to cialis india earn a spot in the last four, began their chase steadily with Hasanuzzaman (5) playing second fiddle to Andre Fletcher (28 off 22 balls).
They eased to 33-0 in five overs in which Fletcher was dropped by Kumar Sangakkara off Shakib Al Hasan. But Shakib got his man in the next over when he fired one wide to have the batsman stumped. The dismissal triggered a slide that ended with Dhaka’s dominating win.
Russell struck twice in the next over to grab the prized scalp of Mahmudullah for 5 and that of Hasanuzzaman (5). Dangerman Benny Howell (4) and Abdul Mazid (7) soon perished to leave Khulna teetering on 53-5 in the 10th over.
The chase seemed to be going nowhere when Nicholas Pooran (9) threw his wicket away. Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury (8) and Mosharraf Hossain (1) fell in the same over as Dwayne Bravo and Russell snuffed out the tail to wrap things up.
Russell returned 3-16 from four overs and Bravo took 3-10 in 2.2 overs. Mosaddek Hossain, Sunzamul Islam, Abu Jayed and Shakib picked up a wicket each.
Asked to bat first, the home team were off to stuttering start as Khulna made early inroads. But stubborn resistance from Caribbean duo Russell (46) and Bravo (23) helped them to a respectable total.
Pacer Junaid Khan put the Dhaka top order to the sword before Fletcher spun through the middle order.
Opener Mehedi Maruf (7) fell chasing a wider ball from Junaid after smashing a six. In his next over, the Pakistani pacer saw the back of Sangakkara (9) and Evin Lewis (11) with two short ones and Dhaka slumped to 28-3 in the fourth over.
After Shafiul Islam had gone off the field injured, Mahmudullah brought Fletcher into the attack.
Nasir Hossain (13) and Shakib (18) had just begun rebuilding the innings when Fletcher took both the batsmen out in successive overs. Nasir lazily chipped a fuller ball to long-off before skipper Shakib fell to a sharp return catch to let Khulna take control of the game.
Russell then took matters into his own hands and cracked two boundaries on either side of a six to signal his intent. Mosaddek (8) ran himself out in the next over to leave his team on the ropes but Russell again canada school of pharmacy rankings came to the rescue.
He blasted four boundaries and three sixes in his 25-ball knock and paired in a quickfire 49-run stand with Bravo.
With the team on 138-6 in the penultimate over, Dhaka were looking of a total in excess of 150 but Junaid returned to bowl a fine last over, giving away just two runs and taking a wicket for his 20th in the competition.
He finished 4-24 from four overs and Fletcher took 2-22.
Source: Bd News24
