A brilliant century by Chris Gayle - his second of the event - was not enough to pull off a win for the Barisal Burners as the Dhaka Gladiators secured a 21-run win in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Gayle’s 61-ball 116, scored with the help of 11 sixes and six fours, went in vain as no other batsman apart from Mithun Ali (35) was able to provide him the needed support to overhaul the Gladiators’ mammoth 208 for five.
The two put together a 103-run stand for the third wicket off just 59 deliveries, hitting Dhaka’s bowlers all over the park. However, two wickets each for Azhar Mahmood and Mashrafe Murtaza helped restrict Barisal to 187 for five.
Earlier, Mahmood had starred with the bat as well, scoring an unbeaten of 77 off just 47 deliveries, carting the Barisal bowlers for eight boundaries and three sixes. Imran Nazir scored an equally entertaining 58 as Dhaka put up a huge total. Yasir Arafat and Kabir Ali picked up two wickets each for Barisal.
Samuels upstages Akmal
Elsewhere, Duoronto Rajshahi beat Sylhet Royals by 16 runs in after a fine all-round show by West Indian Marlon Samuels.
Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal had put the Royals in a good position at 103 for two, chasing 172 for victory but some tight bowling by Rajshahi ensured that the opposition was restricted to 155 for four.
Akmal, who hit a 41-ball 55 with the help of three boundaries and four sixes, combined well with opener Imrul Kayes (32) and Peter Trego (37) to put the Royals in command before Rajshahi staged a comeback. Mohammad Sami picked up one for 27, while Samuels and Fawad Alam also snared one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Samuels’ brilliant 48-ball 72 was the highlight of the Rajshahi innings after they had been reduced to 25 for two. Samuels hit five sixes and three boundaries in his whirlwind knock and found good support from Mushfiqur Rahim (33) and Abdul Razzaq (30). For the Royals, Alok Kapali picked up three wickets.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2012.
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