BPL 4, Qualifier 1, Review: Dhaka Dynamites steamroll Khulna Titans to march into the finals

The stage was set for the all-important first Qualifier of this edition of the BPL. The top two teams from the league stage, Dhaka Dynamites and Khulna Titans, locked horns for a spot in the finals. The benefit that the both sides had was the loser would have got another shot at the final berth. However, it is always better to win and not wait for the next opportunity.

‘Our batters disappointed us’ – This statement by Khulna Titans skipper Mahmudullah summed up the story of the match. The Titans could never get into the game despite having a modest target in hand. Being bundled out for 86, they did not do any good to them on a key day like this. However, they do have another chance when the meet the Rajshahi Kings in Qualifier 2. The Dhaka Dynamites emerged as the deserving team to march into the finals. They were the top side in the league stage and it was not a surprise to see them outplay the Titans.

Earlier in the day, it was Khulna Titans who had won the toss and opted to bowl first. On a low scoring surface, they decided to stick to the same eleven that had helped them beat Dhaka Dynamites a couple of nights ago. The Dynamites, on the other hand, brought in Evin Lewis to strengthen their batting and Ravi Bopara was the one to miss out.

In a surprising twist, the Dynamites tinkered with their settled opening pair. Kumar Sangakkara was demoted to number 3 as Mehedi Maruf walked in to open with Evin Lewis. The Dynamites had a shocking start as Maruf fell cheaply on 7 in the 2nd over by Junaid Khan. Sangakkara walked in to the middle but only to be dismissed on 9 by Junaid Khan yet again. Junaid was on a wicket taking spree as he got rid of Evin Lewis on 11 to keep the Dynamites at 28/3. Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan then put on a brief stand to stabilise the innings.

That did not last very long either. Andre Fletcher was introduced in to the attack and the part timer got two wickets in quick succession. He dismissed Nasir on 13 and then bagged the key wicket of Shakib on 18 to restrict Dhaka to 65/5 in 10.4 overs. Had their not been a resurgence from the Caribbean duo of Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, the match was as good as gone for Dynamites.

Russell’s quick fire 46 off 25 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes combined with an unbeaten 22-ball 23 by Bravo gave some impetus to the innings. The Dhaka Dynamites eventually ended with 140/8 in their 20 overs. Junaid Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 4/24 to his name. Khulna Titans opened with Hasanuzzaman and Andre Fletcher.

Fletcher took the Titans to a flying start and took majority of the strike in the powerplay. Dhaka skipper Shakib provided the big breakthrough by dismissing him in the 6th over on 28 (22). Andre Russell has made a name for himself as a big match player. After having sizzled with the bat, he sizzled with the ball too. He dismissed Hasanuzzaman and Mahmudullah in quick succession.

A string of single digit scores in the middle order followed then. The Titans looked in complete tatters at 68/6 in 12.3 overs. Only Andre Fletcher and Ariful Haque could get into the double digits. There was nothing much to talk about the Titans batting as Russell and Bravo saved the day for Dynamites with the ball as well. Both bagged 3 wickets each to have Khulna Titans bundled out for 86 runs. The Dhaka Dynamites won comprehensively by 54 runs to seize a spot in the finals.

Brief Scores:

Dhaka Dynamites: 140/8 in 20 overs (Russell 46, Bravo 23*, Junaid 4/24, Fletcher 2/22)

Khulna Titans: 86/10 (Fletcher 28, Ariful 14, Bravo 3/10, Russell 3/16)