Match 2, Mirpur, January 06, 2023, 06:30 PM
Rangpur Riders
176/5(20.0ov)
Comilla Victorians
142/10(19.1ov)
Rangpur Riders beat Comilla Victorians by 34 runs
That's all we have from the first day of this season's Bangladesh Premier League. On Saturday, two games are lined up for your entertainment - Dhaka Dominators vs Khulna Tigers at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT) and Fortune Barishal vs Sylhet Strikers at 6.30 pm IST (1 pm GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up of both games. Cheers!
Nurul Hasan, the skipper of Rangpur Riders, says that it's a great start for them and praises the way Rony Talukdar and Mohammad Naim opened for them. Adds that on this wicket, if you target big right from the start then it becomes a problem. Feels that the dew factor worked for them. He lauds the efforts of his bowlers, especially under wet conditions.
Rony Talukdar (67 off 31 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Rony says that the pitch was good and he enjoyed playing on it. Says that it can't be put into words how he feels about having the fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi player in the competition and is happy to contribute to the team. Adds that they had good bowlers and knew that if they scored 170-180 runs they would be able to defend it.
The Presentation ceremony...
Imrul Kayes, the captain of Comilla Victorians, says that they gave away a few extra runs and that cost them the game. Feels that they started well with the bat but failed to finish the match. Credits his bowlers for the way they bowled at the death. Tells that he was trying to hit the ball hard but it was tough. Hopes that they will come back in the next game.
Earlier in the game, Imrul Kayes won the toss and decided to bowl first as he hoped that the dew factor would help with the chase. Rangpur Riders were off to a flier as Rony Talukdar smashed the ball to all parts of the ground but as the game progressed the batters found it difficult to press on the accelerator. The Comilla Victorians bowlers did well to pull back things and keep the opposition well under 200 runs which seemed gettable at one point. Coming out to chase, the Victorians' innings started falling apart in the middle phase and they never looked like getting back in the contest.
Comilla Victorians will be disappointed with their efforts as they were outclassed with both bat and ball. They got off to a fast start but lost star batter Litton Das early. Dawid Malan also fell and it was only the skipper Imrul Kayes who put up a fight. He didn't receive much support from the other end and they fell well short of the target in the end.
Rangpur Riders had a decent total on the board and needed a few wickets at the start which they did and that put them on top of proceedings. Hasan Mahmud was the pick of the bowlers as he picked three wickets and everyone else chipped in as well. The likes of Sikandar Raza and Benny Howell used all of their experience to seal the win for the Riders.
The reigning champions have been humbled! It has been a clinical performance by Rangpur Riders to start their campaign with a big win over one of the top teams.
In over# 20
0W
Hasan Mahmud 20/3(3.1)
19.1
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Back of a length around off, Ashiqur Zaman clears his front leg as he tries to heave over the leg side but mistimes it aerially towards mid on. A simple catch for Shoaib Malik and Rangpur Riders win by 34 runs.
Ashiqur Zaman is the last batter.
In over# 19
0W
6
0
0
2
4
Robiul Haque 33/2(4)
18.6
W
OUT! Chops it on! Too full and wide outside off, Jaker reaches out and tries to drive but it takes the inner edge and deflects onto the stumps. Ali's attempt is over and the end is nigh for Comilla Victorians.
18.5
6
SIX! Clears the fence by just! Too full and around off, Jaker gets one in his half and clobbers it over long off.
18.4
.
That nearly carried. Full toss outside off, Jaker Ali throws his bat at it and gets a thickish outside edge. It falls just short of the short third man fielder.
18.3
.
Yorker outside off, Jaker digs it out back towards the bowler.
18.2
2
Slower one, on a length outside off, Ali swings his bat at it and drags it down towards long on. Calls for two and returns on strike.
18.1
4
FOUR! Is there some fight still left? A low full toss outside off, Ali latches onto the room and smacks it through extra cover for a boundary.