BPL: Siddique upstages Mustard to take Rajshahi home

Burners’ 192 proves too small; Ayub bags four in Bengal’s BPL win.

If Barisal Burners thought 192 would be enough to gain maximum points, they were wrong as Duronto Rajshahi overhauled the target with 17 balls to spare for the loss of just one wicket.

Phil Mustard hit a quickfire 88 off just 58 deliveries to help Burners set an imposing target. However, Bangladesh international Junaid Siddique managed an even better performance, remaining unbeaten on a 51-ball 89 to take his team past the finish line.

Siddique put on 93 for the first wicket with Pakistan’s Shahzaib Hasan in just 40 deliveries before Marlon Samuels (54*) provided able support to help Rajshahi secure a convincing victory  — their fifth triumph in seven matches.

Ayub claims four scalps for Bengal

If one match saw runs being piled on with effortless ease, the other turned out to be a low-scoring affair as Khulna Royals Bengals successfully defended a modest 137-run total to defeat Chittagong Kings by 44 runs.

Nasir Hossain scored 42 as Enamul Haque junior picked up three wickets.

In reply, Kings were bundled out for 93 – Jason Roy’s 30 being the highest score – as Marshall Ayub claimed four for 20 and Dwayne Smith finishing with two for 14.

Bengals and Kings are now level on points with both teams registering four wins in six matches.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2012.