Taijul spins Khulna Titans to maiden victory
Photo - BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed his career-best three for 10 to deliver Khulna Titans the much-expected victory.
After losing four matches in a row, which put their ambition of last-four stage at stake, Khulna finally recorded a 25-run win over Rajshahi Kings in a low-scoring affair in the first match of Sylhet phase of BPL on Tuesday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
While there was prediction that the BPL would see a run glut as soon as the tournament shifts to Sylhet, it wasn’t actually materialized as a little crowd experienced an insipid cricket from both of the teams.
Electing to bat first, Khulna Titans were appeared set for another defeat after being restricted to 128 for nine but Rajshahi Kings who had a morale-boosting victory against mighty Rangpur Riders by defending just nine runs in the last over, just a match ago, came up with strange run chase.
They played injudicious shot throughout the game to pave a way for Khulna win the match comfortably with meager score in the board after being wrapped up for 103 in 19.5 overs.
The rot began with a wretched shot from Lourie Evans who was promoted to opening position to partner Mominul Haque. With Khulna’s Pakistan pace bowler Juanid Khan offering a short delivery, Evans (0) casually pulled it to offer a simple catch at mid-on.
Mominul and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraj then were in control until Mahmudullah Riyad had Mominul (7) leg-before with yet another poor delivery.
Taijul appeared in the stage and in no time, scythed Rajshahi’s middle order, removing Mehidy who threw away his wicket by playing a rash shot, Soumya Sarkar (2) and Ryan Ten Doeschate (13). Mehidy’s 16 ball-23 was the highest score for the side.
Taijul’s triple strike left Rajshahi at precarious 55 for six, from which still it was possible to win the game given the chase was small one.
But the rest of the batsmen kept playing wretched shot and dug their own graveyards. To complement Taijul, Juniad Khan also picked up three for 26 and Mahmudullah Riyad snared two for 12.
No.7 batsman Ariful Haque was the top-scorer for Khulna with 27 ball-26 and the next best was Dawid Malan’s 15.
Jahurul Islam Omee in his first match after replacing Paul Stirling made a rapid start but just couldn’t continue, being out on 13. Juniad Siddique like other matches got a start and casually threw away his wicket after scoring 14.
The middle order then found it tough deal with the off-spin of Mehidy and left-arm spin of Arafat Sunny, both of whom finished with two wickets apiece. However Ariful’s knock helped them propel past 100 which looked unlikely at one phase.
Ishuru Udana who cleaned up Khulna’s tail also ended up with two wickets.
