Either one of Barisal Bulls and Dhaka Dynamites will exit the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 today as they prepare to face each other in the Eliminator at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The high-octane evening clash gets underway at 6:30pm.
Despite having 14 points, the same as Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders, the Bulls had to be content with third position due to an inferior net run rate while the Dynamites barely struggled their way to the top four with eight points.
Barisal captain Mahmudullah will be more excited today in comparison to Dhaka skipper Kumar Sangakkara after watching West Indies superstar Chris Gayle roaring back to form with a hurricane 92-run knock against Chittagong Vikings.
The Bangladesh fans are well aware of Gayle’s big-hitting exploits and they will keep their fingers crossed for yet another whirlwind knock from the Jamaican cricketer.
Surprisingly though, it is Gayle’s compatriot Evin Lewis who has outshone his more illustrious partner, courtesy his trail-blazing undefeated hundred against today’s opponents earlier in the tournament.
Coming to the business stage of the tournament, Barisal though will be slightly worried with the form of national cricketer Sabbir Rahman, who has failed to light up the tournament with his big hits.
The Dynamites on the other hand will look to Sangakkara for inspiration. The elegant southpaw has been phenomenal with 339 runs at 42.37 but contributions from icon cricketer Nasir Hossain and Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate will also be crucial if Dhaka are to triumph today.
With so many good batsmen on display, the bowlers of the two sides will also have something to say under the floodlights at the home of cricket. In that aspect, Barisal duo Kevon Cooper and Mohammad Shahid and Dhaka’s Mosharraf Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Abul Hasan are expected to be the main protagonists today.
