The inaugural week of the 2023-24 BPL season has unfolded with a flurry of surprises, a remarkable hat-trick, and the spectacle of eight consecutive successful chases. Excitement peaked as Comilla Victorians clinched a thrilling four-wicket victory against Fortune Barishal in Mirpur, with Imrul Kayes leading the charge with a resilient 52 off 41 balls.
Khulna Tigers claimed the top spot, edging past Chattogram Challengers with a superior net run rate. Their second match witnessed a dominant chase, as they successfully pursued 188 runs against Barishal, securing victory with eight wickets and two overs to spare. Shai Hope’s unbeaten 25, complemented by Anamul Haque’s composed 63 not out and Evin Lewis’s explosive 53 off 22 balls, orchestrated Khulna’s commanding win.
Durdanto Dhaka, the season’s sole new franchise, made a statement by defeating defending champions Comilla in the tournament opener. Player of the Match Shoriful Islam marked his T20 career with the season’s first hat-trick, setting the tone for their success. Mohammad Naim’s 52 off 40 balls further fueled Dhaka’s impressive start.
In a captivating showdown on the second day, Barishal’s successful chase of 135 against Rangpur Riders extended into the final over. The match featured an anticipated clash between Bangladesh seniors Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, but it turned out to be a subdued encounter. Tamim managed just five runs from Shakib’s first seven balls, and Shakib dismissed earlier in the day for 2, adding an unexpected twist to the face-off.
In a swift turnaround, Rangpur bounced back by reducing Sylhet Strikers to 39 for 5, only for Sylhet to stage a recovery led by Benny Howell and Ben Cutting, eventually posting 120. Sylhet then mirrored their opponent’s early struggle by having Rangpur at 39 for 6. However, Babar Azam, the marquee signing of the season, played a crucial role, guiding Rangpur to victory with a half-century and an unbeaten partnership of 88 with Azmatullah Omarzai. This victory left Sylhet as the lone winless team in the competition.
Player Performances of the Week
In a week where Mushfiqur Rahim and Kayes both accumulated over a hundred runs, Anamul Haque’s unbeaten 63 against Barishal emerged as the standout inning. Often touted as a latent talent, Anamul showcased his consistency in scoring runs in the BPL and domestic competitions. His composed half-century played a pivotal role in Khulna’s successful chase of 188, complementing Lewis’s explosive powerplay.
Player of the Week – Bowler: Nahidul Islam’s Impactful Performances
Nahidul Islam emerged as the bowler of the week with stellar performances for Khulna. His four-wicket haul against Chattogram, including key dismissals such as Avishka Fernando and Tanzid Hasan, set the tone for victory. In another tight spell against Barishal, Nahidul conceded just 23 runs in four overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.38 across two matches. His consistent match-winning contributions underscored his significance in the BPL.
