BPL 2105 Match #21: Sylhet Super Stars Vs Barisal Bulls Played at SBNCS Dhaka on 6 December 2015
Sylhet Superstars 59/1 (Junaid Siddique 34 *, Nurul Hasan 23*) beat Barisal Bulls 58 All Out ( Mohammad Sami 16 ,Elvin Lewis12 ,Chris Gayle 8, Ravi Bopara 3/ 12, Shahid Afridi 2/5 , Rubel Hossain 2/6 and Mohammad Shahid 2/23 ) by 9 Wickets
Player of the Match: Junaid Siddique (Sylhet Super Stars)
An awe inspiring sparkling all round performance of Sylhet Super Stars forced crush landing of high flying Barisal Bulls as BPL 2015 returned to capital city.
Bulls were sitting pretty among the top of the pack and Superstars was in the danger of quitting the race. While this match gave a wakeup call to the Bulls, it opened window of opportunity for Superstars to try winning most of its remaining matches for an outside chance of qualifying for the next round.
A very disciplined all round attack of Superstars bundled out star studded Bulls to 58 –the lowest score of bPL2015. Super Stars cantered home losing only 1 wickets with 52 balls to spare Bulls batsmen including master blaster Chris Gayle failed to deliver as the batsmen were shocked and awed by Shahid Afridi Inspired quality bowling attack featuring Shahid, Rubel, Bopara, Afridi and Sohail Tanvir.
On the same surface, incidentally Sami, Taizul and Al Amin for once could not shine. It was unthinkable also to defend the paltry target.
Superstars changed its leader Mushfique with Afridi and the luck changed at least for the day. They still have a long way to go as they lost 5 or their 6 earlier matches. For a realistic chance they need winning all of their remaining matches and wait for results of other matches favoring them.
Chris Gayle arrived with a promise to present his attacking flavor to Bulls mission. But he failed in his first attempt .Not only him alone all Bulls batsmen found it tough going. Superstars appeared with all guns blazing. Before they could realize what was happening they found themselves at tight corner losing their top five for only 34 on board by the 10th over.
Wickets continued tumbling at regular interval. They could reach 58 with some lusty hitting by tail ender Mohammad Sami. Bulls have to improve its batting a great deal, if they want to make a serious crack into championship.
This was the second time in the tournament their batting exploded even after inclusion of the batting monster Chris Gayle. Bopara with his military medium was the wrecker in chief taking 3/ 12. Afridi (2/5), Rubel (2/6) and Shahid (2/23) combined in the wicket hunt as Bulls could not find any way out. Bulls innings lasted for only 16 overs.
Superstars found no problem in the chase as they cruised home score 62 /1 after Mohammad Sami blowing out Dilshan Munaweera in the very first over. Junaid Siddique (34*) and Nurul Hasan (23*) cantered home with 52 balls to spare.
All not lost yet for the Superstars. If they can perform consistently over their next four matches, they have a realistic chance of going through. Barisal Bulls cannot afford to lose all of their remaining matches. They must sort out their batting issues as soon as possible.
** Sylhet Super Stars win by 9-wkt
BDST: 0943 HRS, DEC 07, 2015
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