Shakib ignites Dynamites

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan put in what was arguably his best performance of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) this season to lead the Dhaka Dynamites to a convincing 32-run win over the Comilla Victorians at Mirpur yesterday.

Batting first, a quick 26-ball 41 towards the end from the Dhaka skipper led the Dynamites to a strong 170. In reply, the struggling reigning champions were restricted to just 138 for 8. While Dwayne Bravo scalped their wickets, Shakib finished with figures of 1 for 30.

The win has helped Dhaka become the third team to secure at least ten points after the Rangpur Riders and the Khulna Titans and they are currently placed second, below the Titans.

On the other hand, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's Comilla are rock bottom with just two points from eight matches.

 Shakib's blitz towards the end was the reason why the Dynamites managed to post a total past the 160-mark because prior to the left-hander's knock they were moving along at a slow pace.

After Mehedi Maruf was stumped in the fifth over for 22 off 17, Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene shared a 45-run stand for the second wicket before both batsmen were bowled by Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who was Comilla's best bowler of the day with figures of 2 for 26 in four overs.

At the end of 15 overs Dhaka were poised at 109 for 3 and it seemed like they would not reach the 170-mark. However Dhaka scored 61 runs in the last five overs, 30 off which were scored by Shakib. He was supported well by Mosaddek Hossain's 18-ball 25 and Seekuge Prasanna's 4-ball 11. While Mosaddek hit one six and two fours, Prasanna hit one six and one four.

Shakib on the other hand, hit one six and four fours. The highlight of his knock came in the 19th over when he dispatched Mohammad Sharif for a four and a six down the order.

After the exchange, the Victorians lost wickets at regular intervals and never seemed comfortable against Dhaka's bowlers.

While openers Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Khalid Latif struck the ball well, their dismissals saw Comilla lose their way. Nazmul was removed in the fifth over for a 19-ball 17 and Imrul Kayes was the next to depart as he was stumped off Abu Jayed in the ninth over.

Their key player though was Khalid, who was looking good with four fours and a six. However, once he was caught down the ground courtesy of a slower delivery from Bravo in the 11th over, Comilla collapsed. From 72 for 2 in 10 overs, they went down to 106 for 6 in 16 overs.

Dwayne Bravo finished with figures of 3 for 32 and was the best bowler of the day, while Prasanna, Mohammad Shahid, Nasir Hossain, Shakib and Abu Jayed took one each to restrict the Victorians to 138 for 8 at the end of 20 overs.