7-star Taskin leads Rajshahi’s rout of Dhaka

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed claimed seven wickets for just 19 runs in an outstanding bowling effort to steer Durbar Rajshahi to a seven-wicket win over Dhaka Capitals for their first victory in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday, reports BSS.

After Taskin’s record-breaking bowling, which is third best bowling figure in recognized T20 cricket and the best ever in BPL history, Dhaka Capitals were restricted to 174-9.

Captain Anamul Haque Bijoy and Zimbabwe recruit Ryan Burl then added 106 runs for an undefeated fourth wicket, which guided Rajshahi to winning 179-3 after recovering from a shaky 73-3.
Bijoy clobbered nine fours and three sixes in his 46 ball-73 not out before confirming the victory with a nonchalant six of Mukidul Islam Mugdho. Burl was not out on 55 off 33 after hitting five fours and three sixes.

But all those efforts took a backseat in a record-breaking day of Taskin who effectively ruined Dhaka’s prospect of going past 200 runs in batting-favourable wicket.

Taskin bowled his final two overs in the last power play and took five wickets as Dhaka could pile up only 37 runs—a factor the decided the fate of the game.

In his first over, Taskin removed Liton Das for duck before taking out Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 9 in his second over to leave Dhaka at 14-2.

However, the other bowlers couldn’t match with Taskin’s skill later, allowing Dhaka batters’ make a comeback into the game. Shahadat Hossain Dipu who top-scored for the side with 50 and Stephen Eskinazi (46) shared 79 runs for the third wicket and looked set to utilize the power play in proper way to take Dhaka past 200.

However Taskin back with bang to firstly remove Dipu before getting the better of Chaturanga de Silva. In the last over of the innings, he took three wickets in four overs to ensure his side Rajshahi would get a moderate target to chase.

But Rajshahi lost two wickets for 33 runs with Jishan Alam bagging his second consecutive duck. Yasir Ali made 22 to steady the innings before Bijoy and Burl powered the side to the victory.

Rajshahi conceded four-wicket defeat to Fortune Barishal in the first match. Dhaka earlier lost their first match to Rangpur Riders by 40 runs.

MB