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Mehedi Hasan Starred In Nail Biting Rajshahi Win

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-11-24 18:35:18
Mehedi Hasan Starred In Nail Biting Rajshahi Win

Bangabandhu T20 Tournament 
1st Match; Minister Group Rajshahi VS Beximco Dhaka Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 24 November 2020 
Minister Group Rajshahi 169/9 (Mehedi Hasan 50, Nurul Hasan 39, Anisul Islam Emon 35, Mukhtar Ali 3/22, Mehedi Hasan Rana 1/31, Nayeem Hasan 1/32) beat Beximco Dhaka 167/5 (Mushfiqur Rahim 41, Akbar Ali 34, Mukhtar Ali 27*, Mohammad Naim 26, Mehedi Hasan 1/22) by 2 Wickets 
Player Of The Match: Mehedi Hasan (Rajshahi) 

Bangabandhu T20 Tournament arranged to commemorate the birth centenary of the father of Bangladeshi nation got off to dramatic start. In a nail-biting photo finish unfancied Minister Group Rajshahi turned the table on favorite Beximco Dhaka winning by 2 runs.

It was poetic justice that Mehedi Hasan whose explosive 50 in 32 deliveries salvaged Rajshahi from a dire state to a challenging score of 169/9 ultimately bowled a misery last over to snatch the match away from Dhaka. Dhaka required 30 to win in the last two overs. Veteran Farhad Reza who bowled very tight first three overs however got rattled when asked to ball the penultimate over. Muktar Ali plundered 21 runs leaving only 9 runs for a win in the last over. Shanto had option to bring Mehedi for the last over. He bowled a brilliant last over conceding on 7 runs. The drama peaked when he 5th ball was adjudged no ball by third umpire for over stepping. But he did not loose his cool and did not allow not more than a run in the last ball. Rajshahi deservedly won, piping Dhaka to the post. 

On a flat batting paradise Mushfique winning the toss elected to field. A young team of virtually unknown quality Rajshahi had nothing to loose against star studded Dhaka. Moreover, losing their star all-rounder Saifuddin Rajshahi required their young guns firing. That is what they did. Shanto opening with Emon started throwing caution in the wind right from the outset. 31 runs were scored by the 4th over when Shanto himself trying to play on stroke too many off spinner Nasum Ahmed holed out in the deep scoring 17 off 16 deliveries. His partner Emon was blasting everything coming his way. Unfortunately, two veterans Rony Talukdar and Mohammad Asharful could not deliver. Ashraful got out to a brilliant diving catch scoring only 5 off 9 deliveries. Anis was going at high pace scoring freely. But his immaturity showed up when he danced down the wicket for blasting off spinner Naeem out of the park. He was stumped scoring 35 off 23 deliveries with 5 sumptuous fours and a six. A little bit of restraint could make him batting deep. 

Good bowling and great catching by Dhaka got Rajshahi reduced to 5/65 by the 10th over when another youngster Mehedi Hasan pairing with known Nurul Hasan turned the tide completely around with a brilliant 6th wicket partnership of 89. Mehedi scored the first 50 of the tournament in 36 deliveries with 3 fours and 4 sixes. His partner Nurul Hasn scored 39. However, after the blitz Dhaka could manage to restrict Rajshahi to169/9. Mukhtar Ali taking 3/32 was the peak of Dhaka bowlers.

Dhaka response stuck blow when Tamzid Hasan’s (Little Tamim) brilliant innings was nipped in the bud getting run out on 18. Yasir Ali Rabbi was foxed by Mehedi. Naim (26) got start but could not get going. It was left to Mr Dependable Mushfique steering the team. He was doing that capably taking Akbar Ali the hero of under 19 world cup win. The two appeared to be cruising along when Farhad Reza priced Akbar out for 34. The pair put on 71 runs in the 4th wicket partnership. Mushfique also fell to a manufactured stroke scoring 41 of the bowling of Ebadat. At 134/5 in the 18th over Dhaka was still in the game. But at this point Rajshahi bowlers bowled and fielders fielded smartly. Dhaka required 30 off the last two overs for a win. Drama was created as Reza suddenly lost control and leaked 21 runs in his last ie 19th over of the match. Mehedi bowled a magic last over conceding only 7 runs. Rajshahi snatched the match from Dhaka. BOOKIES MUST HAVE MADE FORTUNE FROM THE MATCH.

BDST: 1835 HRS, NOV 24, 2020
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