BPL 3 Match 27 Review: Sylhet Super Stars v Dhaka Dynamites, Afridi seals the game with a six

Sylhet Super Stars called the toss right and chose to field during the 27th encounter of BPL 2015. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium was filled with spirited spectators, as Farhad Reza came out to bat with Yasir Shah. The experiment of opening the innings with Shah once again backfired, as the batsman failed to find the gap thrice in the 6th over before hitting one down the throat of Mohammad Shahid, with Abdur Razzak picking up his first scalp.

The Dhaka top-order did their best to capitalize on the start, as Reza smacked Afridi for a maximum, with Hafeez joining the party in the next over. Farhad Reza’s good run was cut short by Ravi Bopara, as the Dynamites were restricted to 55/3 in the 11th over.

Skipper Sangakkara was in his usual self, squeezing out singles early on before assaulting the military mediums. He was particularly aggressive against Sohail Tanvir, cutting him to point in the first occasion while going down the track to notch up his second. He wasn’t done yet, as he moved across his stumps and lapped the ball to the fine leg fence. He scored 48 runs, courtesy 7 boundaries.

57 vital runs came in the last four overs, as Nasir Hossain played a cameo of 23 balls 31. Spinner Razzak was the pick of the bowler with 2 wickets for nine runs in 2 overs.

Chasing 158 with an asking rate just shy of 8 rpo. Junaid Siddique started in an explosive fashion. Having missed out on 5 BPL games early in the season, Junaid towered 3 sixes and 1 boundary, on the way to his maiden fifty of the season. Bopara made sure his contribution doesn’t go unnoticed, as the Superstars batter took on Yasir Shah and Reza with delight.

Bopara had his share of luck, with Yasir dropping the batsman on 35. He went on to hit few more blows, as he notched up a much needed half century from just 33 balls. The 86 runs stand for the second wicket between Bopara and Junaid looked fine enough to guide the superstars home, but Farhad Reza brought some life into the game by picking up Bopara and Sohail Tanvir in his last spell.

The Superstars needed 9 runs from 3 balls with Shahid Afridi on strike. Reza couldn’t hold on to his nerve, and bowled a loose one on the leg side. Afridi picked it up perfectly and guided it to the stands. Reza’s confidence took a beating, as he bowled a full toss up next which was sent over the fine leg fence for another maximum. The skipper guided Superstars home with six wickets remaining and one delivery to spare

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