Mesmerizing Mominul-Mahedi take Dhaka to 205-4
Dhaka, despite being 35-3 at one stage, ended on 205-4.
Khulna had a dream start to their last game of the group stage against Dhaka Platoon in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League as they picked up three wickets within the powerplay.
But what Mominul Haque and Mahedi Hasan did from there on was a display of brilliant batting as they put up a record 153-run stand for the fourth wicket and Dhaka, despite being 35-3 at one stage, ended on 205-4.
Winning the toss, Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim decided to field first and the decision looked spot-on as they managed to pick three wickets within the powerplay.
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Robbie Frylinck sent Tamim back for 1 in the second over and then struck Anamul Haque on the pads but the umpire said not out. Khulna reviewed and replays showed that the ball was clipping the leg-stump and Anamul survived. Frylinck though got his man in the next over as Anamul gloved a short delivery to Mushfiqur Rahim to return for 10.
Jaker Ali Anik, who came into the side in place of Ariful Haque, was the next to go back as Shafiul Islam caught the batsman off his own bowling to reduce Dhaka to 35-3.
Khulna were given another opportunity to knick off another scalp as Mahedi Hasan skewed a slog-sweep attempt on 12 but Shohidul Islam only managed to miss the catch and Mahedi made sure of making Khulna pay as he put up a stand with Mominul Haque to bring Dhaka back to the game.
Mominul went on to pick his fifty off 40 deliveries and their stand reached hundred in just 57 deliveries. Mominul got more aggressive after reaching fifty and at the other end, Mahedi picked up his third fifty of this BPL off just 31 deliveries.
Mominul was finally gone in the 19th over as the left-hander went back for a scintillating 91 from 59 deliveries off Amir, breaking the 153-run stand which is the highest 4th wicket stand in BPL history.
Despite Mominul's departure, Mahedi and Thisara Perera took 17 off the last over to take Dhaka to 205-4. Dhaka took 76 runs in the last five overs and 132 in the last 10 to reach a humongous total as Mahedi was unbeaten on 68.
