BPL 2017, Match 25 Preview: Khulna Titans v Rangpur Riders

We are halfway through another exciting edition of the BPL and Khulna Titans are eager to register few more wins to confirm their knockout berth. They have been brilliant thus far in the tournament, winning four and losing just two games. One of their matches got washed out and with a total of 9 points after their name, they stand 3rd on the table.

Mahmudullah can take pride of the way he led his side till this stage. The senior pro in the Bangladeshi contingent is making a strong case to take up captaincy in any of the formats at the International level. Although that might never happen, a good rendition in the BPL is always a great addition to one’s CV.

Rangpur Riders have a star studded lineup, but the results aren’t going in their favor. This is something they would love to rectify, but they are up against an on-song side. The Riders went past the Dhaka Dynamites in their previous game, which will be a huge boost for their confidence. But all we can say as of now is that the result for this game is hard to predict.

Khulna Titans (Predicted XI): Mahmudullah (C), Chadwick Walton (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shafiul Islam, Junaid Khan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Carlos Brathwaite, Ariful Haque, Abu Jayed, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain

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), Ziaur Rahman

Focus will be on

Carlos Brathwaite (Khulna Titans)

The way Carlos Brathwaite has made the most of the opportunites in this edition is really impressive. The T20I skipper for the Windies, Brathwaite was not in a great touch before getting into this tournament, but he played a couple of stellar innings, which justifies his reputation as match-winner. The moment he gets going, the game is half done and Rangpur will be vary of the threat he poses.

Lasith Malinga (Rangpur Riders)

If Chris Gayle is the King of all of the T20 batsmen, Malinga has a similar status amongst the bowlers. Undoubtedly one of the greatest the game has ever seen, Lasith Malinga has been struggling in the last couple of years. Though he has managed to pull off few brilliant performances here and there, he had a brilliant game last time against the Dhaka Dynamites. Malinga in full flow is always a sight worth watching.

Playing Combinations

Khulna Titans

The explosive Caribbean Chadwick Walton will open the innings alongside Rilee Rossouw. Seekuge Prasanna at number 3 didn’t work well, so that might change. Mahmudullah might take that position and there are some other powerful strikers in the lineup like Afif Hossain, Carlos Brathwaite, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, and Ariful Haque.

Junaid Khan coming into the side was such a boost for the Titans. He picked up a four-fer in the previous game and was well supported by Abu Jayed. Shafiul Islam and Carlos Brathwaite were a tad expensive, but the spinners Seekuge Prasanna and Afif Hossain covered it up brilliantly.

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.

StatAttack

219 – Ravi Bopara is the second highest run-scorer thus far in the tournament.

187.84 – Carlos Brathwaite has the best strike-rate amongst all the batters in the League stages thus far.