BPL : Chigumbara's heroics not enough - Dhaka Gladiators in to Finals

You are most unlikely to identify this cricketer…………. coming as he does from Zimbabwe; he played 7 Tests and 142 One dayers, considered as a good all-rounder. Probably you might not have cared to watch the match – the Semis of the Bangla Premier League at Mirpur.  When I reached home, it was the final over of the match.  Sylhet Royals were chasing 198 set by Dhaka Gladiators.  Did you say who cares ?

For Gladiators, the openers were Dilshan who was out for a duck and Chris Gayle who scored  1114 off 51;  it further had  Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, DI Stevens, KA Pollard, Mashrafe Mortaza and AC Thomas…………… what a team ! For Royals, Chanderpaul and DR Smith but it was Mushfiqur Rahim, their captain who made 86 off 44.

                                     

24 required of the last over; nothing great going to happen one thought.  One was reminded of the last over bowled by Mortaza at SA in IPL 2009, when Rohit Sharma got all the 24……………. still worthy of seeing

1st ball – Chigumbara swung wildly over long on for a 6; 18 off 5. 

2nd  - similar one over leg side – another six – 12 off 4 – match suddenly alive… though only BPL involving club sides, too many people in the audience are praying. 

3rd ball a single – 11 off 3;  4th slow bouncer called wide.  4th ball again………… Mashrafe Mortaza to Mushfiqur Rahim, another short delivery, batsman swings at it wildly gets a top edge, keeper runs and takes an easy catch. 

Rahim walks, but Umpire asks him to stay…………….. after innumerable TV replays, it is a front foot no.. Mashrafe has crossed the line – so Not Out – one run for the no ball and one for the cross over – worser still, a free hit too……………. 

A gettable 9 off 3 now…..   Chigumbara on strike having crossed over…. fuller length, straight to the fielder at deep and Rahim does the unthinkable, turns back and runs again towards the keeper end when Chigumbara has already turned for the 2nd…. both batsmen at the same end; keeper runs to the other end and it is a run out.    The 5th ball goes for a brace…. a four off the last would have the Super Over………….. Chigumbara was caught in the deep, ending the suspense. 

Dhaka Gladiators have won  by 4 runs and made it into the finals. Sylhet Royals still in the hunt and will play on Sunday in the second semi-final.  certainly a very interesting match, especially when you are supporting any of the team

With regards - S. Sampathkumar