BPL 2019-20: Match 14, Review- Chadwick Walton, Mehedi Rana help Chattogram Challengers prevail in run-fest

The Chattogram Challengers are turning out to be unstoppable as they managed to rack up their fifth victory of the Bangabandhu BPL. In a high-scoring encounter at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Imrul Kayes and Co defeated the Cumilla Warriors by 16 runs. Even as the Challengers tightened their grip at the helm, Dasun Shanaka’s Warriors kept hanging in the middle of the table.

Challengers amass a colossal score

The Warriors’ decision to field first turned out to be a nightmare as the Challengers racked up a mammoth 238/4. Mujeeb Ur Rahman castled Lendl Simmons when the latter was in no mood to die wondering. Avishka Fernando (48) and Imrul Kayes (62) injected momentum into the innings with an 85-run stand. Soumya Sarkar separated the duo, removing Avishka, but it didn’t stop the carnage.

Kayes got to his fifty off 35 balls and soon after he fell prey to his opposite number Dasun Shanaka. Sarkar then got rid of Nasir Hossain to push the Challengers on the backfoot, but all that was momentum. Chadwick Walton got a 27-ball 71 to propel the hosts to the daunting total. His knock was laced with five fours and six sixes. He got apt support from Nurul Hasan, who scored 29 off 15.

Malan and Shanaka’s efforts go in vain

Soumya Sarkar hit a couple of fours and a six off Nasum Ahmed to score 15 runs in the first over of the Warriors’ run-chase. From there, it started going downhill for the visitors. Mehedi Hasan Rana had a dream opening spell, removing Sarkar, Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Sabbir Rahman in a space of 13 balls. Dawid Malan played some audacious shots to get the Warriors innings back on track.

Yasir Ali (21) also joined the party soon, but he perished to Rubel Hossain after a 58-run stand with the Englishman, he got to his fifty off 26 balls. In the end, he became Rana’s fourth victim after a 38-ball 84. After Malan’s dismissal, the onus was on Shanaka (37). He smacked Muktar Ali for two sixes before getting out. Abu Hider Rony got 28 off 10, but it wasn’t enough to scrip win for the Warriors.

Brief Scores

Chattogram Challengers: – 238/4 in 20 overs (Chadwick Walton 71*, Imrul Kayes 62; Soumya Sarkar 2/44)

Cumilla Warriors: – 222/7 in 20 overs (Dawid Malan 84, Dasun Shanaka 37; Mehedi Hasan Rana 4/28)

Chattogram Challengers win by 16 runs