Local players shine as Khulna keep BPL final hopes alive

Dhaka, 3 Feb  - Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nasum Ahmed caught Rangpur Riders in spin-web to help Khulna Tigers register a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the Eliminator clash of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket stadium today.

The victory secured their spot in the Qualifier-2, meaning their hopes to seal the final berth is still alive. Khulna will take on the loser of the Qualifer-1 game which will be held between Fortune Barishal and Chittagong later today at the same venue.

Miraz and Nasum shared six wickets evenly between them to skittle Rangpur out for just 85 runs in 16.5 overs. Naim Sheikh continued his rich vein of form, leading the charge with 33 ball-48 not out as Khulna reached 89-1 in 10.2 overs for a facile victory.
 
Akif Javed who top-scored Rangpur with 18 ball-32, batting at No. 10 position, rattled the stump of Miraz for duck in the first over to give a glimpse of fight but eventually it turned out to be a mismatch when Naim got his usual flow.

He smote three fours and four sixes, last of which closed out the game in emphatic fashion for Khulna. 

Rangpur could have made it a tight contest had their fielders no put down Alex Ross twice in the second over.

Ross recovered from the shaky start to make 29 off 27, sending the ball across the ropes for four times and added an 87-run with Naim for the unbeaten second wicket stand. 

Led by Nasum and Miraz, Khulna bowlers wrecked havoc on much-vaunted batting line of Rangpur who recruited the franchise cricket's big name Andre Russell, Tim David and James Vince for the game.

But all of them were dismissed for single digit figure after Rangpur opted to bat first. The trio collectively made 12 runs.

Khulna also fielded two big names in Shimrom Hetmyer and Jason Holder for the Eliminator clash but they hardly had to put any contribution as the local players shined in impeccably. While Hetmyer had no contribution apart from just fielding, Holder bowled one over to give away 11 runs.
 
Miraz and Nasum stifled Rangpur right from the beginning, conceding just 10 runs and 16 respectively for three wickets each after bowling four overs. 

Their tight bowling left Rangpur at a precarious 32-6, raising the prospect of being all out below 50. 

No. 10 batter Akif Javed hit 18 ball-32 with four fours and two sixes while skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan made 23. They were the only two batters who could reach double digits. 

Rangpur started the tournament with a bang by winning eight straight matches but thereafter they lost four matches on the trot to end the group phase at third placed team and forced to play the Eliminator. They eventually lost the Eliminator game, making it five straight defeats before making exit from the tournament.

It was, however, the third straight time, they made departure from BPL from the knock out stages.BSS