The Khulna Tigers have returned to winning ways in Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League T20, defeating Rangpur Rangers by 52 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka Friday.
Pacer Shahidul Islam led the defence of the 182 posted by the Tigers with a man-of-the-match performance, after Rangpur had won the toss and elected to field first.
In the Tigers innings, where they posted 182/7, Captain Mushfiqur Rahim was top-scorer with a 48-ball 59, while number six batsman Najibullah Zadran provided the impetus with a lightning 41 off 26 balls.
Opener Najmul Hossain Shanto had given the Tigers a decent start with 30 off 22 deliveries.
Among the Rangers bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman led the way with three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs, while Lewis Gregory picked up two and Mohammad Nabi chipped in with one.
Khulna's Mushfiqur Rahim plays a shot Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Khulna all-rounder Robbie Frylinck was dismissed via a run out.
In the Rangpur innings, Australian opener Shane Watson finally joined the side but could not contribute heavily, as he was dismissed off the bowling Frylink in the second over after scoring five runs.
Subsequently, it was the Shahidul show, as the pacer registered the second best bowling figure of the tournament- four wickets for 23 runs in his four overs.
Spinner Tanvir Islam chipped in with two wickets, while Shafiul Islam, Frylink and Mohammad Amir picked up one each.
Shahidul repeatedly bamboozled the Rangers batsmen with excellently disguised slower deliveries, and only four of the batsmen managed to reach double figure - Lewis Gregory (32 off 26 balls), Mohammad Naim (20 off 9 balls), Mustafizur Rahman (18 off 9 balls) and Shadman Islam (16 off 13 balls).
22ND MATCH, KTvRR
KHULNA TIGERS INNINGS R B
Shanto c Gregory b Nabi 30 22
Miraz c Jahurul b Mustafizur 12 7
Rossouw c Watson b Mustafiz 0 1
Shamsur c Jahurul b Gregory 13 12
Mushfiq c Mukidul b Mustafiz 59 48
Najibullah c Shadman b Gregory 41 26
Frylinck run out (Nabi) 9 3
Shahidul not out 0 1
Mohammad Amir not out 1 2
Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 2, w 13) 17
Total (20 overs) 182/7
Fall Of Wickets
1-23 (Miraz), 2-23 (Rossouw), 3-45 (Shamsur), 4-84 (Shanto), 5-166 (Najibullah), 6-179 (Mushfiq), 7-180 (Frylinck)
Bowling
Mukidul 2-0-34-0, Mustafizur 4-0-28-3, Nabi 4-0-16-1, Gregory 4-0-36-2, Delport 3-0-40-0, Sanjit 3-0-26-0
RANGPUR RANGERS INNINGS R B
Watson c Miraz b Frylinck 5 10
Naim c & b Amir 20 9
Delport c Shahidul b Shafiul 9 11
Gregory c Mushfiq b Tanvir 34 26
Fazle c Shanto b Shahidul 4 11
Nabi c Najibullah b Shahidul 7 14
Shadman c Rossouw b Shahidul 16 13
Jahurul b Shahidul 1 2
Sanjit Saha not out 5 8
Mukidul c Najibullah b Tanvir 0 5
Mustafizur not out 21 11
Extras (lb 6, w 2) 8
Total (20 overs) 130/9
Fall Of Wickets
1-5 (Watson), 2-33 (Naim), 3-42 (Delport), 4-72 (Fazle), 5-84 (Gregory), 6-91 (Nabi), 7-97 (Jahurul), 8-104 (Shadman), 9-107 (Mukidul)
Bowling
Amir 3-0-15-1, Frylinck 4-1-23-1, Miraz 4-0-20-0, Shafiul 2-0-14-1, Tanvir 3-0-29-2, Shahidul 4-0-23-4
Khulna Tigers won by 52 runs
MoM: Shahidul Islam (KT)
