Dhaka Dynamites got back to winning ways after defeating Sylhet Sixers by six wickets in their BPL 6 match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Friday.
The game changer
Captain Shakib al Hasan struck his first half-century this season as he led the run chase to guide his team to victory.
Shakib scored a 61-run innings off 41 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
The Dhaka skipper’s innings was commanding after Dhaka lost three quick wickets within 4.3 overs while chasing 159.
How the action unfolded
Chasing 159, Dhaka reached their target in just 17 overs.
Shakib was unbeaten on 61, while Andre Russell scored 40 off 21.
Earlier, Sylhet posted a challenging total, riding on skipper David Warner’s 63 off 43 balls.
Shakib was adjudged man-of-the-match for his all-round performance
Key moments
Spinner Aliss gets injured
Aliss al Islam, who took a hat-trick against Rangpur Riders on debut, got injured in the ninth over.
He started his run-up but fell awkwardly while delivering the ball.
He looked in pain, and was carried away from the field, and was unable to return in the remaining overs.
Sohan’s brilliant wicket-keeping
Dhaka wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan had a great day behind the stumps as he took two brilliant catches.
He took the catch of Afif Hossain in the 11th over diving to his right.
The partnership between Afif and Warner looked promising for the Sixers and the flying catch was important for Dhaka to halt Sylhet’s charge.
Later Sohan took another well-judged catch jumping high and this time it was the wicket of the experienced Alok Kapali in the 12th over.
It was an impressive show from the wicket-keeper, who is often considered as the best keeper in the country.
Warner fires again
Warner scored another impressive half-century for his side.
The left-hander struck eight boundaries and a six, and was quick in running between the wickets.
Warner’s innings helped Sylhet post 158 runs on the board.
Although Warner will return to Australia to treat a recurring elbow injury after the Sylhet phase, his batting was fluent against Dhaka’s bowlers.
Russell’s monster six hits rooftop of gallery
Dhaka all-rounder Russell was not impressive with the ball and while fielding, but the right-hander showed his muscle power while batting, scoring 40 off just 21 balls.
He smashed two monstrous sixes back-to-back against Sylhet pacer Taskin Ahmed.
The first six off the third ball of the 16th over was massive over deep mid-wicket and it landed on the roof of the gallery stand.
The ball got lost eventually.
The second one off the next delivery was almost a similar shot, but it traveled a less distance, and landed in the top tier of the crowd over the same place.
What this result means
Dhaka are sitting at the top of the points table with 10 points from six matches.
They will face Chittagong Vikings Monday.
Sylhet have four points from six games, and they will face Rangpur Saturday.
19th MATCH, SSvDD
SYLHET SIXERS INNINGS R B
Liton lbw b Shakib 27 14
Sabbir c Rony b Russell 11 16
Afif c Nurul b Birch 19 17
Warner c Naim b Shakib 63 43
Kapali c Nurul b Rubel 0 4
Pooran b Narine 6 6
Jaker c Rubel b Birch 25 18
Taskin hit wicket b Birch 1 2
Lamichhane not out 0 0
Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6
Total (20 Overs) 158/8
Fall Of Wickets
1-38 (Liton), 2-38 (Sabbir), 3-78 (Afif), 4-79 (Kapali), 5-86 (Pooran), 6-149 (Warner), 7-158 (Jaker), 8-158 (Taskin)
Bowling
Russell 3-1-20-1, Birch 4-0-42-3, Shakib 4-0-34-2, Narine 4-0-32-1, Aliss 1-0-2-0, Rubel 4-0-24-1
DHAKA DYNAMITES INNINGS R B
Mizanur b Irfan 1 3
Narine c Sabbir b Taskin 20 10
Rony b Lamichhane 13 13
Shakib not out 61 41
Rasooli c Sabbir b Irfan 19 15
Russell not out 40 21
Extras (b 1, lb 4, nb 1, w 3) 9
Total (17 Overs) 163/4
Fall Of Wickets
1-23 (Mizanur), 2-23 (Narine), 3-37 (Rony), 4-112 (Rasooli)
Bowling
Taskin 3-0-32-1, Irfan 4-0-38-2, Lamichhane 4-0-27-1, Al-Amin 3-0-30-0, Kapali 3-0-31-0
Dhaka Dynamites won by six wickets
MoM: Shakib al Hasan (DD)