BPL 3 Match 19 Review: Rangpur Riders v Barisal Bulls, Bulls go to the top of the table with an impressive win

The match number 19 of BPL 2015 witnessed the Rangpur Riders pitted against the Barisal Bulls. Both teams have done reasonably well in the competition. Ranpur were 2nd on the table with a game in hand while the Bulls were 3rd. With the top 3 teams tied on 8 points ahead of this game, every match becomes vital from now.

Having won the toss the Barisal skipper, Mahmudullah Riyad, had no hesitation in bowling first. Having put only 104/9 from 20 overs, the Riders were never in the game which saw a rain delay and a revised target in the Barisal innings. A revised target of 75 was easily achieved by the Bulls as they cruised home by 6 wickets (D/L method).

Riders lost Soumya Sarkar and Shakib Al Hasan in the 2nd over of the match with both playing reckless shots and being caught off the bowling of Al-Amin Hossain. At the end of 6 overs the Riders were struggling at 28/3 having lost another wicket, that of Taijul Islam.

The opener Jahurul Islam was the only batsman who was looking confident on 19 having struck a four and a six. He was dismissed for 24 by the West Indian Rayad Emrit in the 10th over as the team continued to struggle. Misbah hit a couple of boundaries in the following overs and, however, lost another partner in the form of Thisara Perera in the 13th over.

Misbah made 22 including 3 fours before being dismissed by countryman Mohammad Sami off a short ball. Sami removed Mohammad Nabi in the same over as the Riders reached 65/7 at the end of 15 overs. The other 2 wickets to fall were that of Al-Amin who hit 2 fours and 1 six in his 17 off 12, and Wahab Riaz who scored 12 from 10 which helped the total reach 104/9.

Rony Talukdar started the innings with a bang smashing Nabi for 3 fours in a space of 4 balls in the second over. Wahab came on to bowl the next over and made an immediate impact by removing Evin Lewis for 4. Rain played spoilsport during the 4th over with Barisal on 19/1.

Seven overs were lost to rain and the target was revised to 75. Rony hit Arafat Sunny for a six and then lost his wicket in the 6th over. He made 23 off 19 and gave the team the start it needed in a small run chase.

Mehedi Maruf was dismissed by Shakib and the Bulls were 42/3 at the end of 8 overs needing 33 more runs to win from 30 balls. Nadif Chowdhury became Sunny’s second wicket however it didn’t make any difference as the Bulls were always comfortably placed to overhaul the target. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on 23 and guided his team to a victory in the final over when only 3 runs were needed.

Brief scores:

Rangpur Riders – 104/9 from 20 overs (J Islam 24; Al-Amin Hossain 3/30)

Barisal Bulls – 75/4 from 12.3 overs (target 75 D/L) (Mahmudullah 23*; A Sunny 2/11)

Man of the Match: Al-Amin Hossain (Barisal Bulls)