Dynamites face Riders in 2nd qualifier today
Last year’s runners-up Dhaka Dynamites will take on defending champions Rangpur Riders in the second qualifiers of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 scheduled to be held today (Wednesday) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.
The match kicks off at 6.30 pm under the flood light.
The match is very important for both the sides as the winners will move to the final of the tournament.
Earlier, Comilla Victorians, as the first team, to confirm their spot of final by beating Rangpur Riders by eight wickets in the first qualifier.
Rangpur Riders skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, however, still optimistic to take his team to the final.
He said his side is still in this tournament with one more match to play that is second qualifier against Dhaka and the Riders skipper hoped that his key player Chris Gayle would flare up in the big match as everyone have their eyes on him in this format and it is nothing different for them.
The Narail Express hoped that he has faith in Gayle who have ability to click at the right time although his team has just this one game, but still Rangpur are in a very important position.
The explosive Caribbean opener Gayle, scored 46 runs off 44 balls before getting dismissed in the 11th over of the first qualifier but never appeared of his characteristic batting like in the previous games he appeared for Rangpur in this edition of BPL.
But Mashrafe said that he still has faith in Gayle, who is hailed as the ‘Universe Boss’ in this format of the game and felt he would make the difference when it matters.
On the other hand, Dhaka Dynamites, which confirmed their second qualifier spot by beating Chittagong Vikings by six wickets in the eliminator match, very keen to win the second qualifier in order to go into the final.
The two Dhaka’s openers in good form and skipper Shakib Al Hasan must expecting the same performance from the two openers in the crucial match against Rangpur Riders.
The West Indies recruit Narine captured four wickets and struck a breezy 16-ball 31 to help set up a win for Dhaka with 20 balls to spare against Chittagong Vikings.
Narine added 44 in just 4.3 overs with opening partner Upul Tharanga, who scored 51 that included seven fours. Tharanga guided the chase until the 14th over after which Nurul Hasan and Kieron Pollard knocked off the remaining 24 runs with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand.
Shakib Al Hasan has been a consistent performer especially with ball and he may be the big threat for the defending champions.
