Chattogram reach below-par 164-9 after scintillating start

What could have been, but what happened. 

Chattogram Challengers must be thinking this after their innings against Rajshahi Royals in the second qualifier of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20. 

The portsiders were 111-3 after the 10th over but only managed to score 53 in their last 10 overs to reach a total of 164-9, which was a fighting one on the scoreboard but not what they had expected it to be. 

Winning the toss, Rajshahi skipper Andre Russell decided to field first as they brought in Irfan Shukkur and Mohammad Nawaz to replace Taijul Islam and Ravi Bopara. 

Chattogram were off to a slow start as they needed eight deliveries to kick off their score, but soon they caught up as Chris Gayle started to wreak havoc. But Chattogram lost a couple of wickets at the other end as Ziaur Rahman and Imrul Kayes were sent back by Mohammad Irfan and Russell respectively. 

Chattogram could have been in even more trouble as Russell trapped their skipper Mahmudullah Riyad LBW but he reviewed and replays showed that the ball was missing the stumps. 

Despite all the chaos at the other end, Gayle stayed untroubled as he continued his storm to pick up his fifty off just 21 balls and his stand with Mahmudullah reached fifty within just 24 deliveries. 

But from there on, what started was a procession of batsmen as Afif Hossain despite going for 20 runs in an over, managed to rattle Gayle's stumps to send back the Caribbean for 60. 

Nawaz was the next to cause fatality for portsiders as he struck twice to send back Mahmudullah and Nurul Hasan Sohan in the 11th over before Liton Das took a brilliant catch to send back Chadwick Walton off Alok Kapali.

Rayad Emrit was the next to go as he was run out for 3 and Asela Gunaratne after holding one end, inside-edged an Irfan delivery in the 19th over to go back for 31. 

Chattogram managed to lose another wicket in the last over, taking five runs to reach 164-9. 

Brief Score 

Chattogram Challengers: 164-9 (Gayle 60, Mahmudullah 33, Gunaratne 31, Nawaz 2-13, Irfan 2-16, Kapali 1-19)