Khulna Titans got their second victory in the Bangladesh Premier League’s sixth edition as they beat Sylhet Sixers by 21 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
Titans made a combined effort to post 170/9 after losing the toss and their bowlers restricted the opponents for 149/7 to hand over their side the second victory of the tournament.
Playing XI of Sylhet Sixers and Khulna Titans. #SSvKT
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Key moments
Junaid keeps his good form
Khulna Titans opener Junaid Sddique continued his good form as he scored 33 runs and formed a crucial 73-run opening stand in just 41 balls with Zimbabwean Brendon Taylor.
But Sixers’ leg-spinner Alok Kapali caught him off his own bowling before Pakistani left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz removed one-down Al-Amin, who was stumped by Liton Das, in the next over.
Just when Taylor was approaching his half century Kapali dismissed him for 48 and also bowled Ariful Haque three balls later to reduce Titans to 111/5 in the 13th over.
Kapali picked his fourth wicket when Mahmuddulah was stumped for three in the 15th over and Titans seemed to lose their way after a good start.
Wiese resurrect Titans
But South African David Wiese made very crucial knock of 38-run off just 25 balls to resurrect his side. He was caught by Afif Hossain in the penultimate ball of the final over, which was bowled by Taskin Ahmed, and Junaid Khan was run out in the final ball but Titans were able to post a defendable total on the board.
Taijul chips in with wickets
Chasing the score, Sixers made the worst possible start as their opener Liton Das was cleaned up in the first ball of the innings by Subashis Roy.
Liton’s opening partner Sabbir Rahman, who was recalled in the national side after lifting his ban, seemed to be in good touch but he was caught by Wiese in the bowling of Taijul Islam in the fifth over to be dismissed for 13.
Taijul, who finished the spell with 3/32, continued his good work as he dismissed Kapali and Afif Hossain in the ninth over to push Sixers into the back foot.
Shanto takes a stunner to remove dangerous Newaz
But, Sixers’ Nawaz and West Indian hard-hitter Nicolas Pooran continued to keep the chase in track and added 81 runs in 51 balls before the latter was dismissed by man of the match Wiese in the 18th over.
Sixers still had the chances as they needed 26 runs off 10 balls but Nazmul Hossain Shanto took a spectacular catch to get Nawaz out for 54.
Nawaz, who struck two fours and four sixes in his 34-ball innings, hoisted a shot over bowler’s Junaid Khan’s head but Shanto covered some distance and wobbled the ball before holding it to finish any realistic chances of the opponents.
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What this result means
With the win Titans now have four points from nine matches while Sixers have same number of points from eight matches. Sixers are at the bottom of the table due to lesser net run-rate.
With the match another phase of Dhaka is finished and the Chittagong phase will start from Friday. Titans will play their next match against Sixers on Saturday while Sixers will play their next match against Rajshahi Kings on Friday.
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Khulna Titans Innings
BATSMEN R B
Taylor †c Jaker b Kapali 48 31
Junaid Siddique c & b Kapali 33 23
Al-Amin st †Liton b Nawaz 2 3
Shanto lbw b Nawaz 17 13
Mahmudullah (c) st †Liton b Kapali 3 6
Ariful b Kapali 0 3
D Wiese c Afif b Taskin 38 25
Yasir Shah c Sabbir b Taskin 8 7
Taijul not out 9 9
Junaid run out †Liton 0 0
Extras 12 (lb 3, w 9)
TOTAL 170/9 (20 Overs, RR: 8.5)
Fall of wickets: 1-73 (Junaid Siddique, 6.5 ov), 2-76 (Al-Amin, 7.3 ov), 3-105 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 10.6 ov), 4-111 (BRM Taylor, 12.1 ov), 5-111 (Ariful Haque, 12.4 ov), 6-116 (Mahmudullah, 14.1 ov), 7-146 (Yasir Shah, 17.3 ov), 8-170 (D Wiese, 19.5 ov), 9-170 (Junaid Khan, 19.6 ov)
BOWLING
Sohail Tanvir 3-0-28-0, Taskin Ahmed 4-0-35-2, Mohammad Irfan 4-0-37-0, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-26-2, Nasir Hossain 1-0-19-0, Alok Kapali 4-0-22-4
Sylhet Sixers Innings (target: 171 runs from 20 overs)
BATSMEN R B
Liton Das † b Subashis Roy 0 1
Sabbir c Wiese b Taijul 13 12
Afif c Wiese b Taijul 29 24
Kapali c Yasir b Taijul 11 16
Nawaz c Shanto b Junaid 54 34
Pooran c sub Shoriful b Wiese 28 21
Tanvir (c)c Mahmudullah b Yasir 5 8
Jaker not out 2 2
Nasir not out 0 2
Extras 7 (lb 2, w 5)
TOTAL 149/7 (20 Overs, RR: 7.45)
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Liton Das, 0.1 ov), 2-32 (Sabbir Rahman, 4.3 ov), 3-54 (Alok Kapali, 8.3 ov), 4-56 (Afif Hossain, 8.6 ov), 5-137 (N Pooran, 17.3 ov), 6-145 (Mohammad Nawaz(3), 18.3 ov), 7-148 (Sohail Tanvir, 19.3 ov)
BOWLING
Subashis Roy 4-0-40-1, Junaid Khan 4-0-28-1, Yasir Shah 3-0-14-1, Taijul Islam 4-0-32-3, D Wiese 4-0-24-1, Mahmudullah1-0-9-0
Titans won by 21 runs
MoM: David Wiese