Sylhet Strikers see both extremes.
Winning a game despite losing three wickets in the second over against Fortune Barishal, but then losing their first home game. It was Sylhet’s week to forget (or remember). Muhammad Wasim’s three-wicket over saw Sylhet slide down the points table, but Najamul Hussain Shanto and Raja Rahman Raja ensured a two-run win. But three days later, they fell to 18 for 7 in their first game at home, against Rangpur Riders. Mashrafe Murtaza and Hassan Saqib rescued them but 9 for 92 never threatened Rangpur. Barishal’s win against Chittogram Challengers on Friday evening has moved them above Sylhet at the top of the points table.
Bowlers ruled the week, feat. Haris Rauf, Muhammad Wasim
Haris Rauf started the week with the fastest recorded bowling of the tournament, a thunderous 154km/hr on Darvish Rasooli’s chest against Chittagong. The batsman stopped him to take an easy catch and Rauf took three wickets in the game. The following day, Wasim took his three overs, before Naheedul Islam and Tasin Ahmed had bowled in the clash between Dhaka Dominators and Khulna Tigers. Both picked up cheap four wickets but Taksin won the game for Dhaka. Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and left-arm spinner Nahadzaman also had their bowling moments to cap off a good week for the bowlers in the BPL.
Batsman of the Week: Najam Hussain Shanto
Shantu is now among the top three run-scorers in this season’s BPL. He has given Sylhet top-order strength, while also getting the hang of anchoring T20s. Shantu has a wide range of shots but like Latindas he needs to know when to use those shots. So far this season he has looked like a batsman who understands his game a bit better than he did 12 months ago.
Bowler of the week: Tasin Ahmad
Complacency with his on-field performance is effectively creating a gap between himself and the rest of the pace pack. He has not been playing for the best team in the competition but ensured that Dhaka got at least one memorable low-scoring thriller with his four wickets. Bowling short, full or length, Satisfi’s drive to become a better bowler is always evident in his energy on the field.
