cricket
Like a duck to water: Neesham reflects on stellar BPL debut
New Zealand's James Neesham made an immediate impact for the Rangpur Riders, blasting a whirlwind 51 off 26 balls and claiming two wickets to propel his team to a dominating win. Despite arriving in Dhaka just the day before, Neesham displayed his typical cool confidence.
Riding on his and Reeza Hendricks' fifties, the table-topping Rangpur Riders cruised past the Chattogram Challengers by 53 runs. The victory further solidifies their position in the BPL standings.
“It's been a bit of a whirlwind, getting in yesterday morning, meeting the guys at training,” Neesham told the media after the match. “It looks like we have a very good team, top of the table before my arrival, so there was pressure to keep that momentum going. But yeah, delighted with how the game went today.”
BPL 2024: Rangpur Riders rout Chattogram Challengers as Neesham, Shakib shine
In the modern T20 world, players often travel rapidly between venues with little adjustment time. This can pose mental challenges in adapting to a new team and environment.
Neesham, however, takes it in stride.
“That's the reality of playing around the world,” he said. “Coaches or captains shouldn't have to tell me how to prepare. It's about understanding your own game.”
He emphasizes that a player can now easily familiarize themselves with opposition via technology: “Some players you know, some you don't, but it's about trusting your own game. Today, that approach worked out.”
BPL Spectacle: What Makes Tawhid Shine with a Century?
Neesham credits his extensive experience in diverse conditions for his success. He indicated that playing leagues like the IPL and tournaments in the UAE and Sri Lanka can help to perform well in the different parts of the world.
BPL 2024: Rangpur Riders rout Chattogram Challengers as Neesham, Shakib shine
In a dominant display at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the Rangpur Riders demolished the Chattogram Challengers by 53 runs in a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter on Saturday.
An explosive batting performance, driven by half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks and James Neesham, propelled Rangpur to an imposing total of 211/3, the first 200-plus total by any team, in their 20 overs. It was the debut match for Neesham in the BPL.
The Challengers' chase faltered from the outset as Josh Brown fell cheaply to Shakib Al Hasan. Shykat Ali hit a half-century, though a bit slowly, but wickets tumbled around him.
A late flurry from Shuvagata Hom (31*) provided scant consolation for Chattogram. Shakib (2/24) and the irrepressible James Neesham (2/32) starred with the ball for Rangpur, smothering any chances of a comeback.
Neesham's all-around brilliance was pivotal. His blistering unbeaten 51 included two fours and an astounding five sixes, injecting crucial momentum into the Riders innings. Before him, Reeza Hendricks set a solid foundation with 58, while Shakib chipped in with an important 27.
Salauddin Sakil proved Chattogram's most economical bowler, claiming the wickets of Shakib and Hendricks.
The Challengers simply never recovered from their early losses, even with Shykat's defiant knock. Ultimately, the target proved insurmountable, and the Riders cruised to a comfortable victory.
This win has cemented Ranpgur’s place at the top of the points table. They have now amassed 12 points from six wins in eight matches. In contrast, Chattogram is still among the top three teams. They have 10 points from five wins in eight matches.
BPL Spectacle: What Makes Tawhid Shine with a Century?
When Tawhid Hridoy stepped onto the crease, the Comilla Victorians had already lost three wickets for just 23 runs, making their chase of a daunting target of 176 seems like an uphill battle.
Yet, Tawhid Hridoy refused to yield. In a display of artistry and control, he steered the team to a remarkable five-wicket victory, notching up his maiden century in the format — the first of the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
His innings culminated in a brilliant 108 off just 57 balls, embellished with eight fours and seven sixes—powerful brushstrokes against an ominous backdrop.
His century was the only sixth century in BPL by the Bangladeshi batters. Overall, it was the 30th century in this prestigious T20 league in the country.
Read: BPL 2024: Strikers cruise home comfortably against Tigers
Following the match, the right-handed batter shared his thoughts with the media. He attributed his success to the opportunity to bat higher up the order, expressing gratitude to his captain and the team management for the chance provided.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bat at the top order,” he remarked. “I would like to thank my captain and team management.”
Tawhid had garnered acclaim as one of the finest batters during his U-19 cricketing days and has since become an indispensable asset to the national white-ball team. Yet, amidst the accolades, he retains a sense of perspective.
Reflecting on his century in the BPL, Tawhid humbly remarked that while each century holds significance for him, his three centuries against Sri Lanka at the U-19 level stand out as particularly memorable.
“Every century is special,” he affirmed, “but those three against Sri Lanka at the U-19 level hold a special place in my heart.”
Read: BPL 2024: Sylhet triumph over Dhaka in battle of minnows
BPL 2024: Tawhid lights up Mirpur to condemn Dhaka to 7th straight defeat
Tawhid Hridoy struck the first century of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, guiding Comilla Victorians to a five-wicket victory over struggling Durdanto Dhaka on Friday in Mirpur.
Hridoy reached his maiden BPL ton in just 53 balls, blasting eight fours and six sixes. After reaching his half-century off 32 balls, he took just 21 more deliveries to reach the three-figure mark. Immediately after his century, he demonstrated his power yet again by smashing Dhaka's captain Taskin Ahmed for a seventh six.
BPL 2024: Strikers cruise home comfortably against Tigers
This feat marks Hridoy as only the sixth Bangladeshi batter to score a BPL century.
With this win, Comilla secured 10 points with five victories from seven matches, placing them among the top three teams in the points table.
Batting first, Dhaka posted a competitive 175 for four, driven by half-centuries from Mohammad Naim (64) and Saif Hassan (57). Matthew Forde led the Victorians' bowling with three wickets.
Comilla's reply initially faltered, losing three wickets for a mere 23 runs. That's when Hridoy's stupendous hitting century turned the match on its head.
BPL 2024: Mominul Joins Rangpur Riders
Even better was that Hridoy saw the job through to the end, remaining unbeaten on 108 off 57 balls to clinch the win. English recruit Brooke Guest provided support with 34 runs.
While the Victorians solidify their top-tier position, Dhaka remains anchored at the bottom with seven losses in eight matches, including their current seven-game losing streak.
BPL 2024: Strikers cruise home comfortably against Tigers
The Sylhet Strikers on Friday pulled off a fairly comfortable 5-wicket victory over the Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter at Mirpur.
Opting to bat first, Khulna were anchored by an unbeaten 67 from opener and captain Anamul Haque, although questions may be raised as to whether the T20 format has room for 'anchors'. Despite losing just three wickets, it took a late flourish from Habibur Rahman Sohan (44* off 30) to boost their score to a challenging 153/3. Yet it proved below par, and questions must be raised re
For Strikers, Sunzamul Islam, Samit Patel, and Benny Howell took a wicket each.
In reply, the Strikers lost their opener Samit Patel cheaply, putting pressure on their top order. Harry Tector, the other opener, however, played a match-winning innings. His blistering 61 from 52 deliveries included six boundaries and three towering sixes, giving the Strikers vital momentum.
Mark Deyal impressed for the Tigers, claiming 3/19, and the dismissals of Tector and Mohammad Mithun threatened to swing the result back in Khulna's favor.
Ultimately, with nerves jangling, it was Ryan Burl (32*) and Ariful Haque (11*) who remained composed in the closing moments. They guided the Strikers home with an over to spare, sparking jubilant celebrations.
With 19 runs needed in 12 balls, experienced Rubel Hossain came in to bowl the 19th over, and conceded 24 runs to hand the match to Sylhet. The right-arm pacer conceded three sixes and one four.
BPL 2024: Mominul Joins Rangpur Riders
Rangpur Riders have enlisted former Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque for the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the team announced on Wednesday.
The announcement follows the departure of three foreign stars from Rangpur—Babar Azam, Mohammad Nabi, and Azmatullah Omarzai—prior to this season.
Mominul's omission during the squad formation late last year surprised many.
"I wasn't frustrated," Mominul said when asked about his feelings regarding the earlier oversight.
He mentioned being occupied with practice sessions for the upcoming Sri Lanka series and expressed his interest in following the BPL matches.
With 122 T20 appearances and over 2000 runs alongside 11 half-centuries, Mominul brings a wealth of experience to the team.
The left-handed batter is mostly known for his ability of batting well in the longer format of the game. But he can be handy in the shorter format too, as hinted by his T20 record.
Rangpur, Mominul's new team, has contested seven matches in this season's BPL, clinching victory in five. Currently leading the points table with 10 points, Rangpur holds a superior run rate over Chattogram Challengers, who also boast 10 points.
Comilla Victorians, the current BPL winners, and Khulna Tigers are the other two teams in the top four of the points table.
After a day of break, BPL will resume on Friday in Dhaka. Following the ongoing Dhaka phase, the BPL will travel to the port city of Chattgoram before returning to Dhaka for the final phase.
BPL 2024: Sylhet triumph over Dhaka in battle of minnows
Sylhet Strikers secured their second victory in the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), defeating Durdanto Dhaka on Wednesday.
While it marked Sylhet's second win, Dhaka endured their sixth consecutive defeat.
BPL 2024: Comilla Cruise Past Khulna Tigers in Mirpur Clash
Batting first, Dhaka posted 124 for eight in 20 overs. Saif Hassan emerged as their highest scorer with 41 runs off 32 balls, supported by Mohammad Naim, who contributed 36 runs.
Rejaur Rahman Raja of Sylhet claimed three wickets.
BPL 2024: Chattogram Challengers beat Fortune Barishal, march to second spot
In response, Sylhet found themselves struggling at 74 runs for the loss of five wickets. A defeat seemed imminent until Benny Howell and Ryan Burl forged a 55-run partnership, steering the team to victory.
BPL 2024: Shakib’s all-round performance guides Rangpur to fifth win
Shoriful Islam took three wickets for Dhaka, yet his efforts fell short of preventing the defeat.
BPL 2024: Comilla Cruise Past Khulna Tigers in Mirpur Clash
Comilla Victorians emerged triumphant against the Khulna Tigers by 34 runs in their latest match in the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Wednesday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Victorians set a competitive target of 149/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
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Litton Das, leading from the front, contributed significantly with a brisk 45 off 30 deliveries. Mohammad Rizwan and Will Jacks also made notable contributions of 21 and 22 runs, respectively.
In response, the Khulna Tigers faltered in their chase, losing wickets at regular intervals. They were bundled out for 115 runs in 18.5 overs.
Aamer Jamal's sensational bowling spell stole the show, as he scalped five crucial wickets for 23 runs, ensuring the Victorians won it in an easier way.
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With this win, Victorians marched to the third spot of the points table. In contrast, after two consecutive defeats, Khulna came down to fourth.
BPL 2024: Chattogram Challengers beat Fortune Barishal, march to second spot
Chattogram Challengers emerged victorious against Fortune Barishal by 16 runs in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday in Dhaka.
With this win, the Challengers marched to the second spot in the points table with five wins in seven matches. In contrast, it was Barishal’s fourth defeat in seven encounters.
Opting to bat first, the Challengers posted a competitive total of 145/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Opener Josh Brown provided a flying start with a quickfire 38, setting the stage for a solid inning. Tom Bruce anchored the middle order with an unbeaten half-century. Despite some resistance from the Barishal bowlers, the Challengers managed to set a challenging target.
For Barishal, Mohammad Imran took two wickets.
In response, Barishal stumbled in their chase, losing wickets at regular intervals. Tamim Iqbal's effort of 49 kept their hopes alive, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to build partnerships. The Challengers' bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length, restricting Barishal to 129/8 in 20 overs.
Shohidul Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Chattogram, claiming three wickets, while Al-Amin Hossain and Nihaduzzaman provided vital breakthroughs.
BPL 2024: Shakib’s all-round performance guides Rangpur to fifth win
Shakib Al Hasan showcased his prowess with both bat and ball, steering Rangpur Riders to their fifth victory in the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), as they overcame Durdanto Dhaka on Tuesday in Dhaka.
Shakib's impressive performance included a blistering knock of 34 runs off 20 balls, featuring three sixes, at a striking rate of 170. He followed up with a stellar bowling display, claiming three wickets while conceding just 16 runs in his four-over spell.
BPL 2024: Babar, Omarzai, and Nabi to leave Rangpur Riders
His performance brought relief to Shakib's fans, given the all-rounder's recent struggles with an eye issue.
Batting first, Rangpur posted a total of 175 runs for the loss of four wickets. Babar Azam and Rony Talukdar laid a solid foundation with a 67-run opening partnership. Rony contributed 39 runs, while Babar, playing his final match of the season, scored 47.
BPL 2024: Sylhet Phase concludes with Rangpur rising to top 3
Mosaddek Hossain was the pick of the bowlers for Dhaka, claiming two crucial wickets.
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In response, Dhaka faltered, managing only 155 runs. Mohammad Naim was the top scorer with 44 runs off 31 balls.
With this victory, Rangpur moved closer to securing a spot in the playoffs, while Dhaka suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, significantly diminishing their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.