Comilla Victorians will square off with Dhaka Dynamites in the final of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2019 at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.
The Victorians won both contests in the league stages against the Dynamites and are all set to emulate the triumph. However, the Dynamites have big match players in Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell who can the change the course of the game in no time.
Will the Victorians go Boom Boom?
Scoring 326 runs with an astonishing strike rate of 113.19, Tamim Iqbal is the highest run-scorer for the Victorians. By his standards, he has not had the best of time. In fact, he has walked back for a duck on three occasions, leaving the responsibility to the belligerent Evin Lewis who has blitzed a hundred and a fifty. Other than that, he too had an ordinary tournament. The duo will have to empty their minds and go full throttle in the final.
Shamsur Rahman has been the dark horse. In their previous contest against the Dynamites, it was Rahman’s 48 that saved the day. In 9 matches he has tallied 210 runs at an impressive average of 35.
NOTE: Before opting your fantasy cricket team make sure to see the promotions to win more.
Their wicketkeeper Anamul too has had a decent run, but his inability to come good in crunch situations has let his team down.
Captain Imrul Kayes has not, as the idiom goes, led from the front. Thanks to his bowlers that the team has been eluding defeats. That said, Kayes’ experience of playing at the international level will help him maintain his calm in a high-pressure match such as the final.
Shahid ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi has been the MVP for the Victorians. He has scalped 16 wickets at 15.37, giving away runs at an economy of 5.85. With the bat, he has walloped 141 runs at a strike rate of 136.8. Meanwhile, Thisara Perera has not found his lost mojo yet, especially failing with the ball.
Mohammad Saifuddin has taken the most wickets (18) for his team, including a four-wicket haul. Both Wahab Riaz and Mehedi Hasan have claimed 13 wickets each.
Probable XI for Comilla Victorians: Tamim Iqbal, Evin Lewis, Anamul Haque (wk), Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes (c), Thisara Perera, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehedi Hasan, Wahab Riaz, Sanjit Saha
The Dynamites dance to Caribbean Calypso music
Unlike the Victorians’ captain, Shakib Al Hasan has led from the front in true sense of the word. He has scored the most runs for them and is a wicket away from dethroning Taskin Ahmed as the highest wicket-taker. He may as well end up as the Player of the Tournament.
His fellow all-rounders Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have been as potent as ever. Narine has scored 279 runs and sniped up 18 wickets compared to Russell’s 295 runs and 14 wickets.
Upul Tharanga’s addition in the last four matches has fired up the Dynamites, and there is always the Caribbean marauder Keiron Pollard to provide late blitz.
Rubel Hasan has been making early inroads as well as putting a plug on the run flow in death overs. He has taken 21 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls.
Probable XI for Dhaka Dynamites: Upul Tharanga, Sunil Narine (c), Rony Talukdar, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nurul Hasan (wk), Keiron Pollard, Andre Russell, Mahmudul Hasan, Qazi Onik, Shuvagata Hom, Rubel Hossain
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
What is your combination?
My XI: Nurul Hasan (wk), Evin Lewis, Tamim Iqbal, Keiron Pollard, Shamsur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Sunil Narine (vc), Andre Russell/Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain