BPL 2017, Match 31 Preview: Rangpur Riders vs Sylhet Sixers

The competition is heading closer towards the business end and both Rangpur Riders and Sylhet Sixers are currently on the edge of the table. The Sixers’ fate has been all the more diabolical when compared to the Riders. After winning their first three games and announcing their status as the title contenders.

The Sylhet based franchise’s form dipped drastically and they currently find themselves in the bottom half of the table after losing five games in a row. They completely lost the tempo with the tournament progressing and as it stands, they are in going through the worst patch amongst all the teams in the tournament.

Rangpur side looks a completely different unit with McCullum and Gayle on their side. Bopara’s decent show in recent few games has made him the second highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 289 runs after his name. Although their side won their previous game, it was a close one and they’ll be wary of their weaknesses, which the Sixers would be looking to exploit.

Rangpur Riders (Predicted XI): Lasith Malinga, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Shahriar Nafees, Ravi Bopara, Rubel Hossain, Thisara Perera, Sohag Gazi, Mohammad Mithun (wk), Nahidul Islam.

Sylhet Sixers (Predicted XI): Tim Bresnan, Andre Fletcher, Nasir Hossain (C), Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Sabbir Rahman, Taijul Islam, Abul Hasan, Babar Azam, Danushka Gunathilaka, Nurul Hasan (wk), Ghulam Mudassar.

Focus will be on

Mashrafe Mortaza (Rangpur)

Few say he’s over-rated, few say he’s underrated, but the most important thing is, Mortaza is in the form of his life and is leading the Riders from the front. The canny fast bowler and a dashing middle-order batsman, Mortaza promoted himself to number three and bludgeoned a match-winning cameo in the previous game. He needs to pull off few more of such exploits to help his side get closer to the playoffs.

Andre Fletcher (Sylhet)

It was Andre Fletcher and Upul Tharanga who kick-started Sylhet’s season on a high. But inside a very short span of time, Fletcher finds his side in a spot of bother in the fifth position. The Caribbean batsman is tailor-made for T20s and his form will be crucial for the Sixers going into the final stages of the League phase.

Playing combinations

Rangpur Riders

With two of the greatest opening batsmen in T20 history taking charge early, Rangpur can sit back and relax whilst Gayle and McCullum are on. Mohammad Mithun will come in at number 3, followed by Shahriar Nafees, Mashrafe Mortaza, Ravi Bopara, and Thisara Perera coming in the middle order.

They did a brilliant job with the ball in restricting a strong Dynamites’ lineup. Sohag Gazi and Lasith Malinga did a spectacular job, with both players conceding at less than 5 an over. Mortaza and Rubel Hossain chipped in with crucial wickets. Although Perera was taken for a few runs, he managed to pick up a brace as well. Nahidul Islam is another decent option available.

Sylhet Sixers

Danushka Gunathilka will open the innings alongside Andre Fletcher for the Sylhet side, with Babar Azam coming in at number 3. Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman played wonderfully in the previous game and they should continue that in this crucial game. Tim Bresnan and Nurul Hossain will follow in the lower middle order.

Nasir Hossain with the new ball has been outstanding this season. Gunathilaka and Kamrul Rabbi will accompany Tim Bresnan and Abul Hasan, who did a fantastic job in their previous match. Pakistani teenage pacer Ghulam Mudassar will look to create an impact and they have another decent spinning option in Taijul Islam.

StatAttack

5 – Sylhet has lost their previous five matches and another loss would potentially kill their playoff chances.

57.80 – Amongst all the batsmen with over 200 runs, Bopara has the best average of 57.80.