Russell, Liton leads Rajshahi to facile win over Khulna
Photo - BCB , Roton Gomes
|| CF Correspondent ||
Skipper Andre Russell varied his pace in an excellent way while Liton Das complemented it with an elegant half-century as Rajshahi Royals comfortably secured a seven-wicket win over Khulna Tigers in their fourth match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.
Russell dismantled Khulna batting line up in a gem of pace bowling to snare 4-37 and held them back to 145-9, a score which looked always below par. Liton made it even below par, by striking 44 ball-58 with five fours and two sixes as Rajshahi gunned down the target, making 149-3 in 18 overs.
While it was Rajshahi’s third victory in the fourth match that propelled them to the second spot of the point table, It was Khulna’s consecutive second defeat in five matches after winning the first three in a row.
Liton and Afif Hossain shared 76 runs in just ninth over for their opening stand to ease the thing. Afif was first to go after scoring 22 off 18 with three boundaries, as he was trapped run out.
Liton who was fluent right from the beginning tormented Khulna bowlers in style before pace bowler Shahidul Islam had him caught by Tanvir Islam at the point.
But before being dismissed, Liton kept the side in good stead with 94-2 in 11.3 overs. Captain Andre Russell then struck 19 ball-28 not out and did the rest, with the help of Shoaib Malik (16) and Ravi Bopara (13 not out).
After electing to bowl first, Andre Russell all by himself proved his decision preciously right.
He varied his pace well to suffocate the batsman and was aptly supported by the other bowlers who maintained a tight line and length to make the life hell for the batsmen.
Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Ravi Bopara grabbed two wickets apiece to complement Russell.
The giant West Indian opened the bowling and bagged two wickets in his first over, dismissing the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4) and Mehidy Hasan Miraj (0).
In form, Rilee Rossouw held one end intact but Kamrul Islam Rabbi joined the party with Russell to scythe down the middle order, getting rid of Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (1), who paid the price of playing an injudicious scoop early in his innings. Rabbi then had Nazmul Hossain Shanto for leg-before for naught, to leave Khulna at tittering 29-4.
Rossouw hit five fours and one six in his 24 ball-35 before Afif got the prized scalp. Shamsur Rahman Shuvo, however, took the onus and struck 55 off46 with four fours and one six. Alongside him, Robbie Frylinck made 26 ball-31 to help Khulna reach closer to 150. Apart from these three batsmen, no one could reach double-digit figure.
