Chittagong show Dhaka who is King

Cooper takes three to strangle the Gladiators in BPL.

Arafat Sunny and Kenny Cooper strangled Dhaka batsmen into humble submission, restricting them to 107 for nine as Chittagong Kings emerged the unlikeliest of winners after posting a modest 120 for six off their quota in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Arafat took one for 16 off four overs while opening the bowling while Cooper picked up three for 13 as Dhaka batsmen found it hard to score. Such was the bowlers’ hold that master-blaster Kieron Pollard’s miserable six-ball innings brought him just a single.

Earlier, Dwayne Bravo and Jaharul Islam both hit 40s to add respectability to the Kings’ miserable show with the bat. Elias Sunny was the pick of the bowlers, bagging three for 23 as five of the eight batsmen to take guard failed to go past single digits.

Pollard was the performing bowler, giving away just 19 runs and taking the wicket of Islam who fell for a 35-ball 40. Bravo, with two wickets to complete his all-round effort, was named man of the match.

Royal register first BPL win

Duronto Rajshahi’s hopes of getting to the top of the points table were dealt a blow after Sylhet Royal, spurred by a superb performance from Sohail Tanvir and Abul Hasan, notched their first BPL win.

Tanvir and Hasan destroyed Rajshahi’s batting line-up to restrict them to 124 for nine before Kamran Akmal hit an unbeaten 72 to help his side register a nine-wicket win.

Royal, who had lost seven successive games in the tournament, overhauled the target in the 17th over.

Earlier, it was the pace duo of Tanvir and Hasan who shared seven wickets between them to restrict Rajshahi. Tanvir finished with figures of four for 13, while Hasan claimed three for 30. Only Shahzaib Hasan put up resistance, making 54.

In reply, Royal lost only Peter Trego as Akmal and Tom Maynard ensured the team crossed the finish line.

Rajshahi are placed third in the points table behind second-ranked Chittagong Kings and leaders Khulna Royal Bengals who have a better net run-rate.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2012.