BPL 2019-20: Match 26, Dhaka Platoon vs Rajshahi Royals: Match Prediction – Weather Report, Pitch Conditions, Playing XIs and Live Streaming Details

The Rajshahi Royals are on a bit of a role in the ongoing BPL 2019-20. Andre Russell’s men are second in the points table after winning five out of their first six matches. With a net run rate of +1.269, another victory will help them dethrone the Chattogram Challengers from the top of the table. The Royals are next set to lock horns with Mashrafe Mortaza’s Dhaka Platoon in Mirpur.

Going into the next match, the Royals can take heart from the fact that last time around, they beat the Platoon by eight wickets at the very venue. The Platoon, on the other hand, are hanging midway in the points table with eight points. After beating the Cumilla Warriors and Sylhet Thunder, the Platoon lost to the Chattogram Challengers by six wickets. Another loss could just let panic sneak in.

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch in Dhaka has mostly been a belter with batsmen not finding it tough. But spinners have also played a crucial part. Since it’s a night match, dew is most likely to play a role, if not a whole lot. Hence, batting second should remain the way forward. The conditions will be on the hazy side with the temperature around 24 degrees Celsius. The humidity will mostly be 70s and 80s.

Team Combination

Dhaka Platoon

The Platoon’s batting hasn’t been all that explosive. Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque have 225 and 147 runs respectively. But their strike-rates need to increase. Mahedi Hasan has show the ability to up the ante, striking at 142.10. Mominul Haque has 112 runs and has looked pretty comfortable.

The Dhaka batting has depth as the likes of Mashrafe and Wahab can find the middle of the bat. Mahedi Hasan has been their standout bowler with six wickets. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi has returned to Pakistan due to his tussle with knee injury. Afridi is likely to rejoin the team on January 6.

Probable XI

Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Mominul Haque, Jaker Ali, Asif Ali/Laurie Evans Shadab Khan, Thisara Perera, Wahab Riaz, Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Hasan Mahmud

Rajshahi Royals

The Royals’ batting has been class apart from the rest of the teams. Liton Das and Afif Hossain Dhrubo have 211 and 190 runs respectively and have given steady starts almost every time. The duo of Ravi Bopara and Shoaib Malik has held the middle-order together, having scored 311 runs.

Andre Russell has 98 runs, striking at 184.90 and is yet to be dismissed in the BPL. The Jamaican is also the Royals’ leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets. In bowling, the Royals have used loads of options to unsettle the opposition. Bopara has bowled the most number of overs (17.4) for them.

Probable XI

Liton Das (wk), Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Andre Russell (C), Alok Kapali, Irfan Sukkur, Nahidul Islam, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Irfan, Taijul Islam

Probable Top Performers

Tamim Iqbal– Dhaka Platoon | Shoaib Malik– Rajshahi Royals

Broadcast Details

Online– YouTube

Match Timings – 06:00 PM IST, and 06:30 PM local time

The prediction is for Rajshahi Royals to win the match.