Despite off-field controversies and scandals, Durbar Rajshahi has truly shown its strength on the cricket field. With a third consecutive victory, their chances for the playoffs look bright.
Just a day after their previous win, Rajshahi pulled off another impressive victory, painting their path to success. This is the same Rajshahi that has been at the center of salary disputes, with foreign players absent from earlier matches due to unprecedented circumstances, and ongoing discussions about their ownership. Yet, they have managed to shut out all off-field distractions and make an extraordinary comeback on the field, now standing on the brink of a playoff berth.
In their final match of the BPL group stage, Rajshahi defeated Sylhet Strikers by 5 wickets. The previous day, they had stunned top-ranked Rangpur Riders with an all-local squad.
Rajshahi’s bowlers, led by SM Meherb Hasan and Mrittunjay Chowdhury, restricted Sylhet to a modest total, practically sealing the match in the first innings. Despite their efforts, Sylhet’s batters couldn’t break free. Rajshahi’s batters, led by Akbar Ali and Ryan Burl, navigated a small chase and secured another victory, avoiding any further scares.
This marks Rajshahi’s third consecutive win amid much controversy. They are the first team to complete all 12 matches in the group stage and now sit third in the points table with six wins. Their fate in the playoffs now depends on the performances of other teams.
At the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday, Rajshahi restricted Sylhet to 118 runs. After a shaky start in the chase, Akbar and Burl put on a steady 75-run partnership to guide Rajshahi home with 19 balls to spare.
The victory was set up by the bowlers. Meherb took 4 wickets for just 15 runs, and Mrittunjay, who had starred in the previous match, claimed 3 wickets.
The interest around Rajshahi’s playing XI was high, especially after their all-local team in the last match. This time, Ryan Burl and Aftab Alam made their return. Sylhet’s batting was quickly thwarted by Rajshahi’s bowlers. Mrittunjay and Aftab removed key batters, leaving Sylhet struggling at just 20 runs in the powerplay.
Despite efforts from Zakir Hasan and Zakir Ali to build a partnership, Sylhet collapsed further, losing 5 wickets for just 14 runs. A late flurry from Ehsan Hafeez Bhatti and Suman Khan helped Sylhet cross the 100-run mark, but their total was still under par.
In response, Rajshahi lost early wickets in their chase. After four overs, they were 22/4. But Akbar and Ryan Burl steadied the ship with a 75-run partnership. Akbar scored 43 off 38 balls before being dismissed, while Burl remained unbeaten on 48 from 34 balls, guiding Rajshahi to victory with 19 balls to spare.
Match Summary:
- Sylhet Strikers: 117/9 in 20 overs (Shinwari 9, Ariful 7, Zakir 24, Sazzadul 0, Zaker 17, Bhatti 25, Alaine 1, Tanzim 2, Jagessar 5, Suman 20*, Ruel 1*; Taskin 4-1-25-1, Aftab 3-0-13-1, Mrittunjay 4-0-33-3, Sanjamul 4-0-21-0, Meherb 4-0-15-4, Burl 1-0-8-0)
- Durbar Rajshahi: 121/5 in 16.5 overs (Jisan 11, Sabbir 0, Enamul 0, Yasir 2, Akbar 43, Burl 48*, Meherb 5*; Tanzim 4-0-17-2, Jagessar 4-0-34-2, Suman 2-0-22-0, Ruel 2-0-8-0, Bhatti 3.5-0-30-1, Alaine 1-0-9-0)
Result: Durbar Rajshahi won by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: SM Meherb Hasan
