Dazzling Asif Ali takes Dhaka to 172-4
Asif Ali played only 13 deliveries but still managed to become the top-scorer, scoring 39 runs with Ariful Haque staying unbeaten at the other end on 37.
A late flourish from Dhaka Platoon's Asif Ali has taken Dhaka to a commendable score of 172-4 against Khulna Tigers in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20.
Asif Ali played only 13 deliveries but still managed to become the top-scorer, scoring 39 runs with Ariful Haque staying unbeaten at the other end on 37.
Winning the toss, Khulna Tigers skipper Mushfiqur Rahim decided to have a bowl first and invited his counterpart Mashrafe Mortaza to bat first.
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Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque took Dhaka off to a good start as they notched up 44 in the first five overs. But Mohammad Amir struck in the sixth over to send Tamim back for 25 before Anamul was struck LBW by Shafiul in the next over. Anamul reviewed but replays suggested that the ball was hitting the stumps and the batsman had to back.
Shafiul had almost struck twice in the same over as Khulna reviewed against a not out call, but replays showed that the ball was just clipping the stumps and Mahedi survived. But he did not survive for long as he gave Aminul Islam Biplob a simple return catch to go back in the hut for 1.
From there on, Mominul Haque and Ariful Haque built a 56-run stand to set a platform for a late flourish. The stand was broken when Mominul was sent back for 38 by Amir, reducing Dhaka to 118-4.
From there on, Asif Ali played a brilliant cameo of 39 from 13 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes, to take Dhaka to 172-4. The fifth-wicket partnership brought Dhaka 54 runs off 21 deliveries with the last five overs costing Khulna 62 runs.
Ariful was unbeaten on 37 whereas Amir picked up a couple of wickets for Khulna.
