Khulna Titans suffered a heavy defeat against a strong Dhaka Dynamites outfit and their South African big-hitting all-rounder David Wiese lamented the poor bowling and fielding, which took them out of the contest in their second BPL T20 game.
It was also Khulna’s second defeat in as many matches at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
“I think [Tuesday] was a disappointment in all aspects. When we started to bowl we didn’t execute our plans and in fielding we missed a couple of chances as well. Batting was always going to be tough chasing 190 and we needed to get a good start and maintain that the whole time. Our back was against the wall from the start. We will be playing (Wednesday), and we want to use that opportunity. We have to improve quite a bit in the field in the next game, and we need to take the half chances, and just keep the momentum going,” Wiese explained at the post-match press conference.
Khulna are the only team in the tournament to have played two games and yet to win one, and with games coming thick and fast, they will need to get their act together if they are to make the playoffs.
Wiese believes the team have struck the right balance, and has the proper combination to get the desired results.
@dhaka_dynamites defeated @khulnatitans comprehensively by 105 runs in their @Official_BPLT20 6 encounter in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Tuesday.https://t.co/68SNLZbUME#DHAKA #DYNAMITES #DHAKADYNAMITES #KHULNA #TITANS #KHULNATITANS #BPLT20 #ZAZAI
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 8, 2019
“I don’t think we are struggling. Our coaches are trying really hard to improve the performances that will make an impact late in the tournament. But combination-wise I think that it is just spot on, and now it’s up to the players to go and put up a big performance in the field,” Wiese added.
Every team will face each other twice during the group stages and Khulna will have a chance at redemption against Dhaka and Rangpur Riders – two of the tournament favourites on paper and on current form – and Wiese is of the opinion that it is very much possible in the T20 format.
“I think that any team in any day can beat any team. In the shortest format, one person can take the game away and we saw that in their opening partnership. There are lots of quality players, and they know the conditions and we can compete,” Wiese concluded.
Dhaka displayed their batting prowess by putting on a formidable total of 192, and Hazratullah Zazai was the chief destroyer opening the batting, scoring 57 from 36 deliveries.
The wicket in Mirpur has been a bit too paced from the beginning of the tournament, and the batsmen needed to get set at the crease before playing their shots.
Player of the match- Hazratullah Zazai #DDvKT#BPL #BPLSeason6 pic.twitter.com/uq5ft0FAJA
— BPLT20 (@Official_BPLT20) January 8, 2019
“(It) was a different day and the wicket was little difficult too as the ball was keeping low,” Zazai said at the post-match press conference.
Zazai created headlines when he hit six consecutive sixes in the Afghan League, and the West Indies’ Chris Gayle is a player he idolises.
“I like Chris Gayle. I don’t copy his shots. I just play my natural game. The way Gayle bats gives me confidence in my own game,” admitted a very frank Zazai.
Zazai was surprised to have been included in the starting XI with more senior and experienced T20 stars like Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.
“I didn’t think that I will play the first match. Then the coach told, ‘you will play in the first match,’ and that time I became really excited. The team includes (Ian) Bell, Pollard, Russell and Narine and when I heard that I was playing at that time I became very happy,” Zazai concluded.
5TH MATCH, DDvKT
DHAKA DYNAMITES INNINGS R B
Zazai c Ariful b Stirling 57 36
Narine c Ali b Wiese 19 14
Rony c Ariful b Mahmudullah 28 18
Shakib c Shoriful b Stirling 0 1
Pollard c Mahmudullah b Ali 27 16
Russell c & b Wiese 25 22
Shuvagata not out 11 7
Nurul not out 9 6
Extras (b 8, lb 2, w 6) 16
Total (20 Overs) 192/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-67 (Narine), 2-110 (Rony), 3-113 (Zazai), 4-113 (Shakib), 5-168 (Pollard), 6-171 (Russell)
Bowling
Ali 3-0-26-1, Shoriful 3-0-50-0, Wiese 4-0-24-2, Mahmudullah 3-0-26-1, Zahir 4-0-35-0, Stirling 1-0-2-2, Taijul 2-0-19-0
KHULNA TITANS R B
Stirling c Russell b Shakib 1 5
Junaid c Mizanur b Shakib 31 16
Jahurul c Rubel b Narine 1 5
Mahmudullah c Pollard b Shuvagata 8 7
Shanto c Russell b Mohor 13 15
Ariful not out 19 19
Wiese b Shakib 6 7
Taijul run out (Mizanur/Nurul) 2 3
Shoriful c Rubel b Narine 0 2
Zahir run out (Rubel/Nurul) 0 0
Ali Khan absent hurt - -
Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 4) 6
Total (13 Overs) 87 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-5 (Stirling), 2-34 (Jahurul), 3-35 (Junaid), 4-54 (Mahmudullah), 5-60 (Shanto), 6-83 (Wiese), 7-86 (Taijul), 8-86 (Shoriful), 9-87 (Zahir)
Bowling
Russell 2-0-9-0, Shakib 3-0-18-3, Narine 3-0-20-2, Rubel 2-0-22-0, Shuvagata 1-0-4-1, Mohor 2-0-13-1
Dhaka Dynamites won by 105 runs
MoM: Hazratullah Zazai (DD)