Sakib al Hasan produced yet another scintillating performance as Rangpur Riders handed Sylhet Superstars a six-run defeat to move to the top of the Bangladesh Premier League at Mirpur on Thursday.
It was another heartbreaking defeat for Superstars, who are still searching for their maiden win having lost their opening two matches by one-run margin.
A miserable batting caused the downfall of Superstars, who restricted Riders to 109-9 but stumbled in their reply to be dismissed for 103 runs in 19.3 overs for their third successive loss.
Young Abu Jayed kept his nerve in the last over to dismiss last batsman Ajantha Mendis in the second ball, leaving Superstars skipper Mushfiqur Rahim stranded on 25 at the other end.
Riders could successfully deny Mushfiq a strike in the last nine balls to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. Mendis also had his share of blame as he took a single off the last ball of penultimate over to retain the strike in the final over when just seven runs were needed.
The foolish single taken by Mendis baffled many Superstars’ batsmen, including Englishman Ravi Bopara.
‘It doesn’t make sense to me why we took that single,’ Bopara said after the match. ‘I guess the two batters out there thought that every run is crucial. You got to take the opportunity to score the runs.
‘It is not down to the last two batsmen. Your top six has to score the runs. You can’t leave it to seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven. But the top six didn’t do the job.’
While it was a complete despair for Mushfiq, the game provided Sakib another occasion to celebrate, having picked his second successive man-of-the-match award.
Sakib grabbed 3-31 as well made highest 33 runs for Riders to script Riders’ third win in four matches.
Sakib’s bowling change and field placement were spot on and the Superstars found it hard to penetrate and in the process loaded their head with unnecessary pressure.
Sakib failed to keep his cool when umpire Tanvir Ahmed turned down a loud appeal against Mushfiq.
As a result, the all-rounder ran towards the umpire to confront him that seemed to be his only mistake in the match.
Despite the win Sakib could not be satisfied with their batting as Mohammad Shahid exposed them with his accurate bowling to claim 4-12.
‘I agree that the wicket was bad but it was not that bad that we would be unable to put at least 135 runs on the board,’ said Sakib.
‘I was having some confidence but seeing wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end it somehow left me bogged.
‘We have won three out of four matches and it is a relief for us. From here, we can only move forward,’ he said.
BRIEF SCORES
Rangpur Riders 109-9 in 20 overs (Sakib 33, Perera 21; Shahid 4-12) v Sylhet Superstars 103 in 19.2 overs (Mominul 29, Mushfiq 25 not out; Sakib 3-31, Jayed 2-5).
Result: Rangpur Riders won by 6 runs.
Man of the match: Sakib al Hasan (RR)
Source: newage