Local cricketers answered questions surrounding their recent poor run of form in the Bangladesh Premier league (BPL) by delivering the kind of performance fans have hungered in Rajshahi Kings' seven-wicket win over Sylhet Sixers yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium.
Out of the lot which included national players Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim, the one who shone the brightest was Rajshahi's Zakir Hasan, the youngest player in the team. The left-hander marked his first game of the season with a 26-ball 51 that featured four fours and three sixes alongside Mushfiqur, who scored 25 runs off 20 balls, to add an unbeaten 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Zakir, who participated in the Under-19 World Cup, made an immediate impact. The wicketkeeper-batsman was lucky in the 12th over though as he slogged the next two deliveries for huge sixes after almost being dismissed on 16. Zakir was caught at midwicket but by the grace of a replay it was revealed that Sylhet bowler Nabil Samad had overstepped the line.
The 19-year-old, who is coincidentally from Sylhet, hit consecutive fours through the third man and midwicket region for the winning runs off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam as the Kings wrapped up the win with 15 balls to spare.
“I wasn't able to perform last year, so I spoke with my coaches and they told me to work on my strengths. I tried that and got results. Since I also play for the High Performance team, I try to reach the next level [of performance] and also work on my mentality,” said player-of-the-match Zakir after the game.
This victory is Rajshahi's second of the tournament while Sylhet, following their terrific form in the Sylhet leg where they won three out of four matches, have entered a slump in the Dhaka leg which is yet to see the side triumph. However, Rajshahi have played two fixtures fewer than the Sixers.
The Kings seemed confident from start to finish with openers Mominul and Rony Talukdar laying the 65-run foundation for an easy win.
Rony survived a scare early on as he was dropped by Danushka Gunathilaka at midwicket off the second ball of the innings but was later stumped off Nasir Hossain on 24 runs off 22 balls.
On the other hand Mominul continued his fine form, scoring a 36-ball 42 which included a brilliant bottom-handed straight six off Nasir in addition to five fours before he edged a quick delivery from Abul Hasan.
Earlier, after Rasjhahi skipper Darren Sammy chose to field, Sylhet's icon player Sabbir Rahman struck a quickfire 26-ball 41 to help the side post a fighting total.
The right-hander, alongside Englishman Tim Bresnan (29 not out), put on 69 runs for the sixth wicket before the former was sent packing.
Sabbir hit seamer Forhad Reza for consecutive sixes through long on to tally 24 runs from the 18th over before smashing pacer Kesrick Williams for another two sixes but was eventually caught at square leg.
Meanwhile, Sylhet off-spinner Mehedi Hasan was the most economical as he gave away just 12 runs from his four overs.