Mahmudullah Riyad playing a shot for Chattogram Challengers during their match against Dhaka Platoon in BPL in Chattogram on Wednesday. Photo: Prothom Alo
Chattogram Challengers clinched a nail-biter against Dhaka Platoon by 16 runs in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday, reports UNB.Platoon won the toss and sent the Challengers to bat first. Mahmudullah Riyad -led Challengers capitalise on the chance of batting first properly posting the highest team total of this season BPL- 221 – for four in 20 overs, which is also the all-time third-highest team total of BPL.
In reply, Platoon lost their first wicket in just eight runs when Anamul Haque Bijoy fell prey to Mehedi Hasan Rana. However, in the second wicket stand, Mominul Haque who was playing the first game of the season and Jaker Ali added 52 runs on the board.
Jaker Ali fell for 27 off 19 with two fours and as many sixes. After his dismissal, Lawrie Evans (17 off 11) and Asif Ali (15 off 6) were well-set in the middle but failed to exploit the opportunity. These three were removed by Mukter Ali.
Platoon lost their fifth wicket when Mominul Haque was dismissed by Nasir Hossain for 52 off 35 with three fours and two sixes. Mominul was included in the playing XI due to the unavailability of Tamim Iqbal who was ruled out due to viral fever.
Thisara Perera and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza were the last hope for Platoon to chase down a massive total. Perera smashed 47 off 27 with three fours and four sixes, and Mashrafe hit 23 off six with three sixes and one four, but their efforts went in vain as Platoon lost the match by 16 runs in the last over. They ended on 205 all-out in 20 overs.
Mehedi and Mukter bagged three wickets conceding 23 and 42 runs respectively while Kesrick Williams and Nasir scalped two wickets each as well.
Earlier, Challengers posted the maiden 200-plus score in this season of BPL riding on the aggressive batting of Lindle Simmons and Mahmudullah. While Simmon hit 57 off 36 with five fours and fours sixes, Mahmudullah smashed 59 off 28 with five fours and four sixes.
Apart from Simmons and Mahmudullah, Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando quick-fired 13-ball 26 with four fours and one six, national opener Imrul Kayes made a 24-ball 40 hitting five fours and one six, while Chadwick Walton scored an 18-ball 27 runs featuring three boundaries. They ended on221 for four in 20 overs.
For Platoon, Hasan Mahmud bagged two wickets conceding 55 runs in four overs while Salauddin Sakil took one wicket on his BPL debut.
Challengers will take on Cumilla Warriors in their next game on 20 December at the same venue while Platton will face the same team on 23 December at the same venue.
Source: Prothom Alo.
