BPL 4, Match 10, Review: Sabbir Rahman's ton in vain as Barisal Bulls clinch a thriller

A cracker of the game was on the cards when Barisal Bulls locked horns with the Rajshahi Kings. Both teams had registered comprehensive wins in their last games respectively. The Bulls had humbled the defending champions Comilla Victorians whereas the Darren Sammy-led Rajshahi Kings had thumped the Dhaka Dynamites. With confidence rising sky high, a high impact game awaited the crowds.

The tracks at Dhaka had been providing low scoring games. With a day game and bright sunshine, a big scoring game was on the cards. Rajshahi Kings skipper Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Kings decided to rope in West Indies all-rounder Kesrick Williams in place of pacer Mohammad Sami to add depth to their batting. Barisal Bulls skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was content with his overseas combination.

Openers Dilshan Munaweera and Dawid Malan came in to bat as Farhad Reza took the new ball. Reza was successful in sending Munaweera back for a duck in the very first over. Mehedi Hasan, the young spin wizard, shared the new ball with Reza as Shahriar Nafees joined Malan at the crease. Reza struck again in the 4th over to get rid of Malan on 11.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was the new man in. Since then, it was an all out batting onslaught on display. The Barisal Bulls started poorly with only 28 runs in the powerplay. But, Rahim and Nafees worked their way out to lead the counter attack. Nafees brought up his half century and looked in prime touch as the duo added 112 runs in 71 balls to put Bulls in the commanding position.

Darren Sammy broke the partnership in the 16th over by dismissing Nafees on 63 off 44 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. In the very next over, Rahim brought up his half-century as he was joined by Thisara Perera in the middle. Rahim decided to up the ante from thereon. Thisara Perera, too, blasted 3 sixes in his 11-ball 24 before being run out on the last ball of the innings.

Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 81 off 52 balls with 5 fours and 4 fours as Barisal Bulls put on a mammoth 192/4 in their 20 overs. Barring Reza and Hasan, all Rajshahi Kings bowlers went for runs in excess of 6 per over.

Rajshahi Kings had a horrendous start to their run chase opener Rajibul Hasan departed for a golden duck off the bowling of Monir Hossain. His opening partner Mominul Haque was then joined by Sabbir Rahman at the crease. The ‘Rahman show’ began to perspire from that instance of time. Al-Amin Hossain accounted for dismissals of Mominul and Umar Akmal on successive deliveries in the 6th over.

While Mominul scored 12, Akmal was dismissed for a golden duck. Rahman continued batting in his own way taking on the Barisal bowlers. He lost Samit Patel (15) soon after putting up a fifty run stand with him but that did not bother him much. Rahman reached his fifty in the 8th over as he was cleaning it up at a strike rate of over 200. It rained sixes and fours from Rahman’s bat in the overs that followed.

He was joined by skipper Darren Sammy who then ensured that Rahman does not lose his cool at the crease. Rahman notched up the maiden century of the BPL 2016. The job was not done just yet. He continued to parade along in the same way. However, he had to make the long walk back when Al-Amin dismissed him on 122 in the 16th over. His knock came off 61 balls with 9 fours and 9 mammoth sixes.

33 was still needed off 24 balls with Sammy and Nurul Hasan at the crease. They nudged the ball around for a couple of overs before Sammy departed on 27 (19) with 10 still needed off 7 balls. Rayad Emrit was the wicket taker that brought Abul Hasan to the crease. Thisara Perera had 9 runs to defend in the final over.

Perera gave away just 5 as Barisal Bulls clinched the thriller by 4 runs. Spare a though for Sabbir Rahman who had singlehandedly taken Rajshahi Kings so close to the victory.

Brief Scores:

Barisal Bulls: 192/4 in 20 overs (Rahim 81*, Nafees 63, Reza 2/22)

Rajshahi Kings: 188/6 in 20 overs (Rahman 122, Sammy 27, Al-Amin 3/35, Monir 1/30)