BPL 4, Match 38, Review: Andre Russell blitz guides Dhaka Dynamites to another win in steady run chase

The stage was set for the two mega cities of Bangladesh to clash. It was Dhaka Dynamites against Chittagong Vikings in the all-important 38th match of the season. The match was expected to be a high-intensity one. Dhaka and Chittagong are the top sides in the points table and no wonder why the match would have determined supremacy.

A win for Dhaka Dynamites would have given a mile lead in the points table. Chittagong Vikings were keen on registering a win to reach the number one spot in the table. Coming into the match, the Dhaka Dynamites won the toss and opted to field first. Kumar Sangakkara was back in the lineup. The one major boost that the Dynamites had was in the form of Andre Russell. Ronsford Beaton was also drafted in. Evin Lewis was left out despite being the player of the match in their previous encounter.

The Chittagong Vikings went in with the same overseas combination and hope for the Chris Gayle and Tamim Iqbal pair to fire at the top order. Iqbal and Gayle walked in to open the innings. The duo looked threatening prospect on paper. However, Andre Russell had a brilliant start to the season as he got the better of his countryman Gayle. Gayle was dismissed on 1 by Russell.

Anamul Haque managed a duck as he perished to Beaton. Jahurul Islam’s stay lasted for just 8 balls before Dwayne Bravo dismissed him for 6. Tamim Iqbal looked from the other end as Chittagong Vikings struggled at 33/3 in 7.4 overs.

It was Shoaib Malik, who then gave some support to Iqbal as they rebuilt the innings. Iqbal, in the meantime, looked in sublime touch. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan created two half chances for the Dhaka Dynamites in the 11th over. Both Malik and Tamim were dropped on successive deliveries.

Tamim made them pay for the lost chance. He notched up his 4th fifty of the season. The duo put on 86 runs for the 4th wicket in 56 balls. The partnership was eventually broken in the 17th over when Malik was dismissed by Beaton. Malik scored 33 off 25 balls before heading back to the pavilion.

Tamim Iqbal was sent packing on the very next delivery in the 18th over. Bravo scalped his second wicket as Tamim perished after scoring 74 off 59 ball with 6 fours and 3 sixes. The Chittagong Vikings eventually ended up with 134/6 in their 20 overs. Bravo scalped 3 and Ronsford Beaton returned with 2 wickets.

Mehedi Maruf had Kumar Sangakkara as his opening partner yet again. Maruf could not do much in the runchase. He was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi in the 3rd over on 9. Nasir Hossain was promoted at number 3 but in vain. He showed some promise as he hit a six and a four but perished after scoring 13 off 6 balls to Imran Khan.

Mosaddek came to hit a boundary too before being dismissed by Shoaib Malik on 9. Meanwhile, Kumar Sangakkara played the role of the anchor at the other end. Though the wickets fell, the run flow never stopped. Sangakkara was joined in by Alauddin Babu at the crease. Sangakkara’s run-a-ball 35 ened in the 13th over with Dhaka Dynamites positioned at 83/4 in 12.5 overs. It was Zakir Hasan who ran out the veteran Sri Lankan.

Andre Russell walked in to bat. The big West Indies batsman took very little time to finish off the game for his side. He announced himself in great fashion. Russell’s quick 18-ball 31 embedded with 3 sixes and a four saw Dhaka Dynamites chase the target in 18.2 overs with 6 wickets in hand.

Alauddin Babu remained unbeaten on 33 off 27 balls as Dynamites registered yet another comprehensive win. They are now guaranteed a place in the playoffs and are most likely to have two shots at the finals.

Brief Scores:

Chittagong Vikings: 134/6 in 20 overs (Tamim 74, Malik 33, Bravo 3/27, Beaton 2/30)

Dhaka Dynamites: 135/4 in 18.2 overs (Sangakkara 35, Babu 33*, Malik 1/23, Imran 1/27)