BPL 3: Qualifier 1, Eliminator 1 Preview

The third edition of the BPL has now reached its deciding stages. Comilla Victorians, Rangpur Riders, Barisal Bulls and Dhaka Dynamites are the top four team. They will now try to edge past each other for a spot in the final.

The first qualifier is between the top two teams in the point’s table- Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders. Both the teams would optimistically try to win the match and secure a direct place the final. The losing team will, however, not lose out on everything as it will have another opportunity in the form of qualifier two.

Both the teams look fairly equal as they do not have any huge margin between them. Out of the 10 matches, both the teams have won 7 each. Both teams have a head to head record of 1-1 in this tournament. Therefore, the contest looks even and it would be interesting to see them play against each other.

BPL 3 Qualifier 1- Comilla Victorians v Rangpur Riders:

Comilla Victorians

The Mashrafe Mortaza led side had a sour start to the tournament as they began on a losing note against Dhaka Dynamites. However, they outclassed every team in the tournament to emerge as the table toppers.

The batting looks solid with foreigners Shoaib Malik, Ahmed Shehzad, and Ashar Zaidi in great form. A lot would depend on them. Bangladesh internationals Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, and Shuvagata Hom will also carry the burden of performing in a vital match.

In the bowling department, Mortaza will definitely miss Sunil Narine. However, they have still done very well. Abu Hider has been the most effective bowler for them in the tournament so far. He has 17 wickets an average of 15.41 so far in the tournament. However, Victorians do not have any threatening strength in their bowling attack and have so far performed well together to win matches.

Squad:

Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Abu Hider, Ahmed Shehzad, Alok Kapali, Ariful Haque, Dhiman Ghosh, Imrul Kayes, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nuwan Kulasekara, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Sunil Narine, Robiul Islam, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Shoaib Malik, Shuvagata Hom, Darren Stevens, Sunzamul Islam, Lahiru Thirimanne

Last five matches: W L W W W

Rangpur Riders:

Rangpur Riders would be upbeat and would like to finish the match in the same way like they started the tournament. Rangpur Riders will be definitely satisfied after a disappointing tournament in 2013 and they would. Of course, they will try to erase that memory by winning the upcoming match and getting one step closer to the title.

Jahurul Islam is the man on whom they bank upon as far as the batting lineup is concerned. But, they have strong all-rounders such as Darren Sammy, Thisara Perera, Lendl Simmons, Kevin O’Brien and Mohammad Nabi. Misbah-ul-Haq will surely be bolstering the line-up as he brings with him the experience of 124 T20 games.

Bowling wise, the skipper Shakib Al Hasan is leading the wicket-takers chart with 17 wickets and has performed his role of an all-rounder really well. To back him up, there is Arafat Sunny who has done exceptionally well so far. On paper, they are a very well balanced side having players with enough caliber to win T20 matches for their team.

Squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (C), Abu Jayed, Arafat Sunny, Juhurul Islam, Jubair Hossain, Marshall Ayub, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Nabi, Muktar Ali, Murad Khan, Kevin O’Brien, Thisara Perera, Raqibul Hasan, Darren Sammy, Saqlain Sajib, Sachithra Senanayake, Lendl Simmons, Soumya Sarkar, Wahab Riaz

Last five games: W W W L W

BPL 3 Eliminator 1- Barisal Bulls v Dhaka Dynamites:

The other contest is the eliminator between Barisal Bulls and Dhaka Dynamites. Both the teams finished third and fourth in the points table respectively. However, Bulls have a great advantage over the Dynamites. Bulls missed out the opportunity of directly playing in the 1^st qualifier just because of lower NRR than the second placed Rangpur Riders. It would be a do-or-die situation for both the teams as they would certainly not have any second opportunity like the Victorians or Riders. Therefore, whoever loses, will be kicked out of the tournament right away. Both the teams had a rehearsal of the upcoming match which the Bulls won by two wickets.

Barisal Bulls:

Bulls have come into the eliminator with seven victories to their credits, which is far superior to their opponents who have struggled somewhat to reach this stage. They narrowly missed out the second place in the points table because of low NRR to the Rangpur Riders.

Bulls fans will definitely expect a Gayle storm. His addition would have surely made the team lot more ambitious. Just a couple of days earlier, Gayle, with a blitzkrieg innings of 92, made a big announcement about what exactly the scenario would be ahead in the last stages of the tournament.

Bulls played it smart by unveiling the tricky Canadian offie Nikhil Dutta in the last match. He would surely be the X-factor. Otherwise, too, the bowling looks very solid with Mohammad Sami, K Cooper, Sohag Gazi and other useful part-timers.

Last five games: W, W, L, L, W:

Dhaka Dynamites:

Dhaka Dynamites have to really keep their spirits high and be fully confident when they go to meet the formidable Barisal Bull in the eliminator. The worrying fact is that Dynamites have made it here partly because of the poor performance of the other two low performing teams. The Dynamites have won only four matches so far in the tournament. However, this their golden opportunity.

Mohammad Hafeez has not really batted well and this crucial occasion may turn out to be his chance to get back in run scoring rhythm. Their batting revolves around Sri Lanka legend Sangakarra, who has been the star performer for them in the tournament. He is also the highest run-getter of the tournament.

The Dynamites fans will surely keep their hopes on the skipper. Mosaraff Hossain should try to continue his good runs in the tournament. We can surely not write Mohammad Irfan off, he can be a danger on any kind of pitch. His contest with Chris Gayle would be exciting.

Last five games: W, L, L, L, L