Hitting 42 off 17 balls and picking up five wickets, Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera helped Dhaka Platoon register their maiden victory of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) against Cumilla Warriors by 20 runs on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Platoon set a challenging target of 181 runs while batting first after losing the toss. In reply, Warriors scored 160 for nine in 20 overs, reports UNB.
While chasing, Warriors scored 32 runs in 2.5 overs riding on the blistering batting of Bhanuka Rajapaksa. But, Platoon captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza removed Rajapaksa (29 off 12 balls), and Platoon came back strongly in the game. After Rajapaksa, Yasir Ali fell for three off six balls.
However, Soumya Sarkar managed 35 off 26 with five fours and one six to keep the Warriors afloat. After Soumya, Sabbir Rahman and Dasun Shanaka fell in quick succession and Warriors lost the momentum.
Dawid Malan (40 off 36) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (37 off 27) contributed well with the bat.
Perera took five wickets conceding 30 runs in four overs while Wahab Riaz bagged two wickets.
Earlier, Platoon posted 180 despite losing their first wicket in the very first ball of the game when Anamul Haque fell prey to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Platoon lost their second wicket in 26 runs. But Tamim Iqbal and Lawrie Evans added 75 runs in the third wicket stand which guided them to a big total.
Evans fell for 23 off 24 with two fours while Tamim posted 74 off 53 with six fours and four sixes. Along with Tamim, Sri Lankan all-rounder Perera also fired a 17-ball 42 with seven fours and one six to propel Platoon to a challenging total of 180 for seven in 20 overs.
Dasun Shanaka and Soumya Sarkar bagged two wickets each conceding 48 and 39 runs respectively while Mujeeb and Abu Hider Rony took one wicket each.
Platoon will take on Sylhet Thunder in their next game on 14 December at the same venue while Cumilla Warriors will face Rangpur Rangers in their next game on 18 December at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.