Dhaka end on 144-8

Dhaka Platoon have scored 144-8 against Chattogram Challengers in the eliminator of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20 at Mirpur. 

Dhaka started the game in the worst manner possible as they lost five wickets within their ninth and lost seven by the 12th. But a late flourish from Thisara Perera at first and then from Shadab Khan ensured that they reached a fighting total in 144-8.

Winning the toss, Chattogram skipper Mahmudullah Riyad opted to field first. Dhaka brought in Luis Reece for Faheem Ashraf whereas Chattogram brought in Mehedi Hasan Rana and Asela Gunaratne to replace Junaid Siddique and Liam Plunkett. 

Batting first, Dhaka were in chaos from the very beginning as they lost three wickets within the powerplay. Tamim Iqbal's stumps were rattled by Rubel Hossain before Nasum Ahmed sent Anamul Haque out for a nought. Skipper Mahmudullah struck in the last over of the powerplay to send Luis Reece back for a duck as Dhaka finished the powerplay with only 28 runs. 

Dhaka's woes continued as their procession of wickets continued. Rayad Emrit struck twice in the ninth over to send back Mahedi Hasan and Jaker Ali Anik before Emrit struck again in his next over to send back Mominul Haque, who was holding up one end for Dhaka. Asif Ali was the next to go as Nasum took a return catch to send back the Pakistani batsman. 

Thisara Perera and Shadab Khan showed Dhaka some hope of reaching a fighting total as they put up a 44-run stand as Thisara started to blast the bowlers. But the stand was broken as Rubel struck in the 18th over to send Thisara back for 25 off 13 deliveries to bring in the injured Mashrafe Mortaza to bat, who had to have 14 stitches in his left hand two days earlier. 

But Shadab Khan blasted Rana and Ziaur Rahman in the last two overs as he picked up his fifty off 36 deliveries and took 39 off the last two overs to take Dhaka to 144-8. 

Shadab was unbeaten on 64 off 41 deliveries with Mashrafe playing only two deliveries in the 14-ball stand. 

Emrit picked up three wickets for Chattogram with Nasum and Rubel picking up one each whereas Mahmudullah picked up the other.