Shakib Al Hasan finally came up with some significant contribution with both bat and ball as Rangpur Riders retained the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) top spot with a comprehensive 60-run win over Durdanto Dhaka today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Shakib's batting was a cause of concern due to his eye sight problem, which needed treatment several times at home and abroad but the ace all-rounder still found it tough to score runs. However his bowling was so far up to the mark.
It seemed Shakib's struggle with the willow due to his eye sight is now over as the all-rounder blasted a 20 ball-34 with one four and three sixes before claiming 3-16 to single handedly sink Dhaka like the Shakib of his old.
Other Rangpur batters also dazzled around him to steer the side to a respectable 175-4 as Dhaka put them into bat first. Dhaka's decision to bowl first was largely inspired by the stat that batting-first team didn't win BPL match at Mirpur this season.
But Dhaka found them in wrong side in today's match as they were severely struggled against Shakib before being all out for paltry 115 in 18 overs. Rangpur now won the both of the matches between the two sides, having crushed Dhaka by 79 runs the first-leg match.
Shakib's three-wicket haul was complemented by two wickets each by Mahedi Hasan, Salman Irshad and Hasan Mahmud.
Rangpur got a rapid start thanks to Rony Talukdar, who recovered from his lean patch to hit 39 off 24 with six fours and one six. When he was dismissed as the first batter, Rangpur was 67-1 in 7.4 overs.
His fellow opener Babar Azam, who played his last game for Rangpur this season, made 47 off 43 with five boundaries. He and Shakib added 52-run for the second wicket to set the platform for Mohammad Nabi and captain Nurul Hasan Soahn to bludgeon the Dhaka bowlers.
Nabi clobbered three sixes for his 16 ball-29 not out while Sohan made an unbeaten 16 off 10.
Mosaddek Hossain Saikat who removed Shakib and Babar in the space of three balls, returned figures of 2-30.
Naim Sheikh continued his rich vein of from even though Dhaka remained completely off colour in the tournament. The national discard Naim this time struck 44 off 31, a knock laced with three fours and as many sixes. Irfan Shukkur was the other notable scorer with 21 while Taskin Ahmed added 15.
After this defeat, Dhaka again languished to bottom table, replacing Sylhet Strikers. They have just one victory in six matches so far. Rangpur collected 10 points from seven matches to stay in top spot.
