Chittagong Vikings v Rajshahi KingsGayle finishes with five-sixer knockChris Gayle, the big-hitting Chittagong left-hander, finished his Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2016-17 season campaign with 44 runs from 30 deliveries as his side suffered a three-wicket defeat in the Eliminator in Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Gayle smashed five sixes and two fours during his innings. The southpaw was struggling with his fitness on Tuesday and batted at No 3. The big man from Jamaica slipped and fell to the ground twice during his stay at the crease. Gayle slipped while trying to take the second run early in his innings. The second time he fell was in the seventh over. Rajshahi spinner Afif Hossain bowled a wide. Gayle tried to sweep and lost his balance before falling down. The wicket-keeper got across and whipped the bails off but Gayle put his left foot back in time. He was clearly in discomfort while batting but still managed to hit five huge sixes. In total, he has smashed 10 sixes in five BPL innings this season.
Rajshahi's Darren Sammy celebrates in his customary style following their victory in the Eliminator
DHAKA TRIBUNESammy, the captain fantasticRajshahi skipper Darren Sammy played a magnificent innings and snatched the win from Chittagong's grasp. He played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 55 off just 27 balls, sealing victory in the process alongside the undefeated Farhad Reza. Rajshahi were struggling at one stage. They lost their sixth wicket for 57 runs. But Sammy, Rajshahi’s captain fantastic, rose to the occasion and played a captain’s knock. Sammy was impressive while fielding as well. Chittagong were batting well at one stage. Gayle and the in-form Tamim Iqbal were batting nicely but Sammy changed his bowlers well and checked the run-rate successfully. More importantly, whenever a wicket fell in the death overs, Sammy gathered his teammates and celebrated in unique ways, sometimes taking imaginary selfies and taking dummy group photos on the other occasions. Their team spirit was clearly visible. As a result, the spirited Rajshahi dumped the star-studded Chittagong out of the tournament.
Dhaka Dynamites v Khulna Titans Khulna Titans' Junaid Khan bowls as Dhaka Dynamites' Nasir Hossain looks on
DHAKA TRIBUNEJunaid's great last over and another four-wicket haulKhulna's leading pacer Junaid Khan displayed another superb bowling performance, including a great last over under pressure, to restrict Dhaka to 140. Junaid bagged his second four-wicket haul of the tournament as he dismissed Mehedi Maruf, Evin Lewis, Kumar Sangakkara and Alauddin Babu. He is now at the top of the highest wicket-takers' list with 20 wickets. The Pakistani recruit also produced a superb last over at the end conceding two runs and taking the wicket of Babu.