Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Afghanistan recruit Najibullah Zadran led Chattogram Challengers to a facile seven-wicket victory against Sylhet Strikers in their first game of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Zadran blasted 30 ball-61 not out with three fours and five sixes while Dipu hammered an unbeaten 57 off 39 with four fours and as many sixes as Chattogram gunned down Sylhet's 177-2 with 180-3 in 18.3 overs.
In the process, they shared 121 runs for the undefeated fourth wicket stand. Sylhet though ruled the game early in the innings, reducing Chattogram to 59-3 in eighth over, the dew made an adverse impact on the bowlers as the innings progressed.
Sri Lanka recruit Avishka Fernando gave Chattogram a flying start with 23 ball-39 before Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Sylhet scythed down the top-order.
Sylhet's Zimbabwe recruit Richard Ngarava broke through with the wicket of Tanzid Hasan Tamim (2) and then Najmul Islam Apu dismissed Fernando to break down with his signature 'Nagin' dance.
Playing his first competitive game after 250 days, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza got wicket in his first ball when he removed Imranuzzman for 11. But that mattered little at the end.
After being sent to bat first, Sylhet rode on Zakir Hasan's 43 ball-70 not out after opener Mithun gave them a rapid start with 28 ball-40. Najmul Hossain Shanto made 30 ball-36 while Harry Tector was not out on 26.
