Usman Khan became the first batter in the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 to hit a century as Chittagong Kings crushed Durbar Rajshahi by 105 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Friday.
Pakistani recruit Usman slammed career-best 123 off 62, clobbering 13 fours and six sixes to steer Chittagong to a daunting 219/5, a total that proved to be too hot to handle for Rajshahi.
Rajshahi, who came into the match after winning a game less than 24 hours ago, thanks to a record-shattering 7/19 of fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, eventually folded for just 114 in 17.1 overs.
Taskin stood tall once again amid his colleagues’ failures and was the only bowler who conceded less than six runs per over.
Sohag Gazi, who was second best in terms of leaking runs, gave away 9.33 runs per over, going to show how good Taskin was.
Taskin ended up with 4-0-22-2 but even his good work could not put a dent on Usman’s efforts.
After being asked to bat first, Chittagong lost Parvez Hossain Emon, who got out for a second-ball duck but that made little impact, due to the carnage of Usman.
He alongside Graham Clark added 120 for the second wicket with the latter hammering a 25-ball 40 with five fours and two sixes.
With other batters providing support, Usman continued his whirlwind batting until he got dismissed, but only after helping the side go past 200-run mark, in the penultimate over.
Haider Ali gave the finishing touch with an unbeaten eight-ball 19.
Rajshahi’s Mohammad Haris was off to a good start in pursuit of such a big target but he got little support from the other end.
The top-order, including captain Anamul Haque Bijoy (eight), crumbled under pressure, leaving the side at 41/2 inside the fifth over.
Haris was soon dismissed in the sixth over after hitting team-high 32 off 15 and from then on Rajshahi lost wickets at regular intervals.
Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny and off-spinner Aliss Al Islam initiated regular inroads to finish with three wickets apiece.
7TH MATCH
Chittagong Kings 219/5 (Usman 123, Clark 40) beat Durbar Rajshahi 114 in 17.1 overs (Haris 32, Aliss 3/17) by 105 runs