BPL: Sami, Ervine shine as Rajshahi reach semis

Down Bengals by eight wickets in BPL clash.

Pakistan fast-bowler Mohammad Sami and Zimbabwean Sean Ervine shined in Duronto Rajshahi’s eight-wicket win over Khulna Royal Bengals with the victory enabling them to become the first team to make it to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) semi-finals.

Sami, who finished with fine figures of three for 16, ensured his team got off to a great start as he dismissed Sri Lanka star Sanath Jayasuriya in the first over of the Bengals innings. All-rounder Abdul Razzaq continued the good work from the other end, cleaning up Herschelle Gibbs to leave the Bengals reeling at five for two.

Niall O’Brien then tried to stage a comeback but got little support from the other end as Rajshahi bowlers continued to dominate the proceedings with Ervine dismissing the Ireland batsman for 35. Ervine claimed three wickets.

Brief knocks from Dwanye Smith (18) and Shakibal Hasan (11) ensured that Bengals crossed the 100-run mark to finish on 106 all out.

Chasing the lowly target, Rajshahi were off to a blazing start courtesy Shahzaib Hasan’s 12-ball 28. Hasan’s dismissal saw Marlon Samuels entering the fray and landing the decisive blow with a 38-ball 50, which saw his team canter to 110 for two in the 15th over.

Hodge, Shahzad star in Burners win

Elsewhere, Brad Hodge and Ahmed Shahzad were involved in a 109-run opening stand for the Barisal Burners as they overhauled Chittagong Kings’ 150 for nine with five wickets to spare.

Hodge scored a belligerent 67 off just 36 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes to lead the Burners’ charge. The Australian got good support from Shahzad who contributed 43. Later, the Burners suffered a mini-collapse, losing five wickets for 40 runs but the Kings’ fightback came too late.

Earlier, the Kings innings had got off to a brisk start as Jason Roy (42) and Ziaur Rahman (24) put on 51 for the first wicket. But fine bowling by Pakistan’s Yasir Arafat (three for 25) restricted the Kings to a manageable total.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2012.