Minister Group Dhaka’s experienced opener Tamim Iqbal played a brilliant innings but his effort was trumped by an amazing last over from young Chattogram Challengers seamer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury.
The day match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2022 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Tuesday showcased everything a 20-over match has to offer and the port city outfit clinched it to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Chasing Chattogram’s 148/6, Dhaka needed nine off the last over with five wickets in hand and more importantly Tamim was there with 73 off 55.
With the odds heavily tilted towards the batting side left-arm pacer Mrittunjoy started with a bang as his clever slower ball beat Afghan batsman Qais Ahmed, who was bowled for one.
The 22-year old bowler exerted more pressure by bowling a dot ball to new batsman Mohammad Naim whose hard swing of the bat missed the cutter, and things got even worse for him when he missed the next ball as well.
However, after three dots Mrittunjoy lost his radar and conceded a wide way outside the off stump.
He came back well in the next ball as Naim picked up a single.
With seven needed of two Mrittunjoy unleashed his best ball, a yorker, to Tamim, who could fetch just a single, and Naim needed to hit half a dozen off the last delivery to win the match.
The young bowler, in the heat of the moment, again lost his control and on that occasion bowled a high-full toss, which was declared as a no-ball, but the surprised batter could only lob the ball back to the bowler.
Naim, the national team T20 opener, had yet another chance to salvage the match with five runs required off the free hit but he could just take a single to long on off the brilliant low full toss of Mrittunjoy.
Tamim was stranded on the other side with 73 off 56 and his brilliant knock along with the two good partnerships of 71 and 43 with Mahmudullah (24) and Shuvagata Hom (22) went in vain.
Earlier in the day, after losing the toss Chattogram posted a fighting score thanks to 37-ball 52 of Shamim Hossain, who batted at No 5, and three important knocks from opener Will Jacks (26) , captain Afif Hossain (27) and Benny Howell (24 not out).
The diminutive left-handed Shamim was adjudged man of the match.
