BPL 3: Legendary Kumar Sangakkara leads the way

Sri Lankan legend, Kumara Sangakkara, at the end of the league stage, in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2015, leads the ‘Top Scorers’ table with a tally of 339 runs from 9 games, at an average of 42.47 with 75 as his highest score. He also has 2 half-centuries to his credit with a strike rate of 119.36.

Dhaka Dynamites, led by Sanga, having lost their final league encounter against Barisal Bulls, are at No. 4 in the points table, having earned 8 points from 10 games and made it to the knock-out stage.

They would now play against the same team, Barisal Bulls, in the Eliminator round on 12th Dec 2015. In case they win, they will move to Qualifier 2 round and will then take on the loser of Qualifier 1 (Comilla Victorians v Rangpur Riders).

Kumara Sangakkara, who retired from all forms of cricket, not too long ago, exhibited his ‘silky touch’ once again while playing against Sylhet Super Stars in the 12th match at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, hammered a 56-ball 75 runs studded with 9 fours and a six, at an impressive strike rate of 133.92 in his 86-minute stay at the crease. With 34 fours and 5 sixes, 49% of his total runs have come by way of big hits.

Sangakkara, leading Dhaka Dynamites, and Chris Gayle, playing for Barisal Bulls, would be very keen to see their respective team go through to the Qualifier stage. However, both these stalwarts did not feature in their final league encounter which Barisal Bulls won by 2 wickets with two deliveries to spare.

Prior to the final league game, the Sri Lankan told reporters, “There are a couple of games we probably should have won against Comilla and Barisal. The magnificent innings from Lewis took the game away from us and a few mistakes cost us the game against Comilla. In T20 cricket, you just need to get back on the horse and go out and play positive cricket.”

“I am pretty happy with the form I am in, and the runs I have scored. I think we have enough good batsmen in the side. We just need some of the local boys to fire and I have all the confidence in them. I think they are some of the best in Bangladesh. We have to give them an opportunity.”

Though it did not clearly work out for the Dynamites in their final league encounter in their favour, Sanga might be looking to ‘put the best for forward’ in the knockout stage.

However, Gayle, who had undergone a surgery and had to miss most of the league games, batted in his typical style to score 92 from 47 balls in one of the league matches and will certainly make it to the Playing XI in the Eliminator. His presence would definitely boost the morale of Barisal Bulls players, given Gayle’s batting prowess, especially in the T20 format.

Interacting with the reporters in Dhaka, Gayle said, “”It is good to be back (in Bangladesh). I always do well when I play here and the team is also doing well. So it’s a bit of pressure off me.”

The knock-out rounds begin on 12th December, 2015 while the final will be played on 15th December, 2015.