Khulna overcome stiff target with relative ease

Rony Talukdar hit a fluent half century while Andre Russell, Thisara Perera made vital contributions as the Khulna Tigers beat Minister Group Dhaka in the second match of the opening day of this year's Bangladesh Premier League, reports UNB.

The first match of BPL's 8th edition - also named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his centennial - between Chattogram and Barishal was a low-scoring affair, but the second match saw lots of big hitting and a target in excess of 180 runs chased down with an over to spare.

Khulna won the toss and sent Dhaka to bat first, who posted a challenging total of 183 runs. In reply, Khulna chased down the target in 19 overs and sealed the match with five wickets in hand.

Mushfiqur Rahim-led Khulna failed to have a good start while chasing as they lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim only for two runs. But in the second-wicket stand, Andre Fletcher and Rony Talukdar added 72 runs on the board which has helped the Khulna Tigers to set a good foundation.

Fletcher fell for 45, and Rony ended up top-scoring with 61 off 42 balls with seven fours and one six. After the departure of Fletcher and Rony, Mushfiqur and Yasir Ali failed to continue their momentum, but Sri Lankan allrounder Thisara Perera smashed 36 off 18 balls with six fours, and it was his knock that buried Dhaka's chances.

For Dhaka, Andre Russell and Ebadot Hossain bagged two wickets each.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Shahzad put up a 69-run opening stand that helped Dhaka post a big total. Shahzad was trapped in a run-out while Tamim registered the maiden fifty of BPL 2022.

Captain of Dhaka, Mahmudullah Riyad, was also tremendous with the bat. He scored 39 off 20 balls with two fours and three sixes.

For Khulna, right-arm pacer Kamrul Islam bagged three wickets conceding 45 runs four overs.

In their next match, Khulna will take on Chattogram Challengers on 24 January while Dhaka will play against the Challengers on 22 January.