BPL 3 Match 9 Review: Sylhet Super Stars v Rangpur Riders, Shakib continues his marvelous form as Riders defend 109

Rangpur Riders continued their good form by registering their third win of the 2015 BPL. Sylhet Super Stars continued their losing streak and have been left with plenty to ponder. Shakib won yet another toss and decided to bat first and put on only 109 tough it proved enough as the Super Stars put in a poor batting performance along with some tactical blunders in the run chase and lost the match by 6 runs.

Soumya Sarkar was dismissed in the 3rd over with the score on 17. He nicked one off Mohammad Shahid to skipper Rahim behind the wicket. Simmons, looking good having hit 2 fours in a knock of 13, was run out attempting a quick single. He was at the non-striker’s end and called Shakib for a run when the left-hander guided one to short third man. Shakib kept playing positively and also rotating the strike. Wickets to Mohammad Mithun and Jahurul Islam pegged back the Riders, however, Perera came in and batted cautiously before dispatching Ajantha Mendis for 2 consecutive sixes in the 13th over before being cleaned up by Ravi Bopara off a cleverly bowled slower one; the Sri Lankan scored 21 off 20 balls. Wickets of Sammy and Senanayake were followed by that of Shakib for a well made 33 off 37 balls including 2 fours and 1 six. Shahid was on a hat-trick as Arafat Sunny was dismissed off the next delivery after Shakib’s wicket. Riders managed only 109/9 and needed a big bowling effort.

Munaweera hit the second ball of the innings for 4 however Shakib removed Englishman Josh Cobb for a golden duck on the 4th ball giving his team a perfect start. The Sri Lankan continued batting aggressively and hit Senanayake for a six and a four in the 3rd over. Mominul Haque also started positively and hit 3 fours in the space of 3 overs. Shakib struck again removing Munaweera for 17 off 11 when he holed out at long off. Haque smashed Shakib for 3 fours in the 6th over and was looking in ominous touch. He was unlucky to be given out LBW off Perera as the umpire missed the inside edge. His 29 off 23 put his team in a good position to overhaul the target however the others failed to bat sensibly and crumbled under pressure. Nazmul Islam was caught and bowled by Senanayake and Arafat Sunny had Bopara LBW.

Abu Jayed ended Nasum Ahmed’s vigil while Shakib returned to pick up his 3rd wicket in the form of Nazmul Milon by getting through his defence. Skipper Rahim was well set however running out of partners as Nurul Hasan was run out and Shahid bowled by Sammy in the penultimate over. Ajanta Mendis took a couple of runs off the 5th ball of this over and should have defended the last ball to ensure strike for Rahim at the start of the last over. The Sylhet skipper made a huge blunder by taking a single off this delivery which kept Mendis on strike with 7 needed. He survived the first ball, however, tried to go for a big hit and holed out at long on where Senanayake took a good catch. Rahim remained on 25* off 34 balls and will surely regret a missed opportunity to register his teams’ first win. Shakib deservedly won his 2nd man-of-the-match award in a row.

Brief Scores:

Rangpur Riders: 109/9 (Shakib 33; M Shahid 4/12)

Sylhet Super Stars: 103 (M Haque 29; Shakib 3/31)

Man of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan