BPL 4, Qualifier 2, Review: Rajshahi Kings set up title clash with Dhaka Dynamites

It was the occasion of the very important game of the BPL 4. Khulna Titans took on the Rajshahi Kings in the penultimate match of the season. The do-or-die match had everything at stake for the teams. A win would have given them a place in the finals to play the Dhaka Dynamites. A defeat would have meant bidding adieu to the season.

The Khulna Titans had their second shot at the finals berth. The lost to Dhaka Dynamites in the Qualifier 1 match. The Rajshahi Kings had to come through the harder way. They beat the Chittagong Vikings in the Eliminator to earn a spot in the Qualifier 2. Both teams had similar problems coming into the match. They had their batting letting them down time and again. So that settled the deal for the match – the one who bats well shall win.

Coming into the match, Khulna Titans won the toss. Mahmudullah chose to bat first. In the earlier part of the season, the Khulna Titans had won a narrow game against Rajshahi Kings defending a low total. They brought in Kevon Cooper in place of Andre Fletcher in the side. The Rajshahi Kings obviously went in with the same team that won the Eliminator.

Abdul Mazid and Hasanuzzaman came in to open the innings for Khulna Titans. A horrible mix up in the 3rd over saw Hasanuzzaman run out on just 1. A couple of deliveries later, Mazid ran out himself as well after another mix up with Nicholas Pooran. Both openers were back in the hut inside 15 balls of play.

Shuvagata Hom’s poor run continued as he was dismissed on 4 in the very next over by Farhad Reza. Skipper Mahmudullah came in to bat at number 5 and joined Pooran at the crease. Pooran lambasted a quick 10-ball 22 with 2 fours and 2 sixes to take the counter attack. Afif Hossain struck thereafter to send him packing in the 7th over. Benny Howell struggled for his 12 runs that came off 13 balls and was dismissed by Samit Patel.

The innings was heading nowhere with wickets falling every alternate over. Patel struck again to make things worse for the Titans. He dismissed Mahmudullah on 22 (28) to bring a total halt in the innings. Ariful hit a fighting unbeaten 29-ball 32 as wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Ariful, who had come in at number 7, remained unbeaten as Khulna Titans could post just 125/9 in their 20 overs. The score looked nowhere close to being a safe one in a crucial match like this. However, the Titans took hope from their narrow win against Rajshahi Kings earlier this season in a similar encounter. Samit Patel was the pick of the bowlers for Rajshahi with 3/19 in his 4 overs.

The opening woes for Rajshahi Kings continued in this match as well. Mominul Haque and Nurul Hasan failed to give a start yet again. Kevon Cooper dismissed Mominul on 2 in the 2nd over. Nurul Hasan perished after scoring 14 off 11 balls on a delivery by Mosharraf Hossain. Afif Hossain was promoted to number 3 and Sabbir Rahman came in at number four. Both batsmen took their time to settle in.

With the target being a modest one, it did not demand any sense of urgency. They put on 39 runs in the powerplay. Afif perished in the 12th over after scoring 26 off 27 balls with 3 fours. Khulna skipper Mahmudullah provided the much needed breakthrough. In came James Franklin to join Rahman at the crease.

Both batsmen played cautiously but with ease as the scorecard kept ticking. It was only a matter of time that the Kings went past the target. 125 on board was never going to be easy to defend. The Rajshahi Kings were over the line in 19.2 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Unbeaten knocks from Sabbir Rahman (43* off 52 balls) and James Franklin (30* off 24 balls) got them through to the finals. The Rajshahi Kings have now set up a title clash date with Dhaka Dynamites for the coveted BPL trophy.

Brief Scores:

Khulna Titans: 125/9 in 20 overs (Pooran 22, Mahmudullah 22, Patel 3/19, Sammy 1/8)

Rajshahi Kings: 129/3 in 19.2 overs (Rahman 43*, Franklin 30*, Mahmudullah 1/10, Mosharraf 1/26)