Khulna Tigers were on a four-match winning streak coming into the final of the BPL 2019-20. On the other hand, Rajshahi Royals had to go through a tough contest in the Qualifier 2 against Chattogram Challengers. However, on Finals day, Andre Russell and Co put forth their A-game and hammered the Tigers by 21 runs. Moreover, they won the championship for the maiden time in history of the BPL.

Late blitz propels the Royals

The Royals got off to a poor start as Mohammad Amir removed Afif Hossain cheaply. Liton Das also had a laboured stay in the middle, scoring 25 off 28 before Shahidul Islam got rid of him. Shoaib Malik flattered to deceive as well. At the other end, Irfan Sukkur stepped up and kept churning out the big shots. The left-hander managed 52 runs off 35 deliveries and became Amir’s second victim.

Rajshahi was in need of some big blows in the death overs. That’s when Andre Russell (27*) and Mohammad Nawaz (41*) came to the party. The duo put on an unbeaten 71-run stand and took the Royals to a formidable 170 for four. In the last three overs. The last three overs fetched 54 runs. For the Tigers, Shahidul was the most impressive as he gave away a mere 23 runs in his four overs.

Royals canter home

The Tigers got off to a terrible start after Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz perished in the single digits. But Shamsur Rahman (52) and Rilee Rossouw (37) got the innings back on track, adding 74 for the third wicket. Nawaz broke the stand after Rossouw hit one down the throat of Dre-Russ. Shamsur got to a fifty off 38 balls and then fell prey to Kamrul Islam Rabbi, much to his agony.

Najibullah Zadran survived a scare, but gave his wicket away to Rabbi. Russell delivered the body blow, ripping Mushfiqur Rahim’s poles apart. With 31 runs needed off 12 balls, the pressure mounted on the Tigers. Robbie Frylinck skied one off Mohammad Irfan and it turned out to be the final nail in the coffin. In the last over, Khulna needed 30 runs and the Royals got home comfortably.

Brief Scores

Rajshahi Royals: 170/4 in 20 overs (Irfan Sukkur 52, Mohammad Nawaz 41; Mohammad Amir 2/35)

Khulna Tigers: 149/8 in 20 overs (Shamsur Rahman 52, Rilee Rossouw 37; Mohammad Irfan 2/18)

Rajshahi Royals win by 21 runs.

Match Details:

The final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2019-20 will be played between Khulna Tigers and Rajshahi Royals at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.

The match starts at 06:30 PM local time (12:30 PM GMT) (6:00 PM IST). This game can be viewed on the Fan Code app in India.

Match Preview for Dream11 Fantasy:

So, here we are! After six weeks of pulsating, accelerating, sometimes gobsmacking and 0n occasions controversial state of affairs, we are finally down to the grand finale of the Bangabandhu BPL where Khulna Tigers and Rajashahi Royals will battle it out for the rights to be called the champions of the 2019-20 edition.

Khulna Tigers booked their place into the summit clash after registering a 27-run win over Rajshahi Royals- the same opponent that they’ll face on Friday. The win was set-up by a whirlwind knock of 78 by Nazmul Hossain Shanto, one that helped them to post a total of 3-158. 

But the final nail in the coffin was nailed by Mohammad Amir’s 6-17, one that proceeded to run through the Royals, even as Shoaib Malik [80] waged a lone battle at the other hand.

The Royals’ struggles with the bat continued in the second qualifier. Barring Irfan Sukkur [45], none of the top-order batsmen could post any substantial score during their run-chase of 165 and it took an insane inning from Andre Russell, who racked up a whirlwind 22-ball 54 to take them past the finishing line.                  

Weather Condition/Report

It is expected to be a bright and sunny day in Dhaka on Thursday. According to the weather report, Dhaka is set to have bright spells of sunshine throughout the day. While the temperature is set to be between 16 and 26 degrees Celsius, the humidity is set to hover around 69%. There is no chance of rain.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium has provided a perfect balance between bat and ball. But in the last few games, chasing has become difficult due to the slowness of the pitch and both the sides will be looking to defend on the night of the final.

Average first innings score:– 166 [In the last five  games at the venue this season]

Record of chasing teams: Won – 2, Lost – 3

Injury and Availability:

(Will be shared if there’s any update)

Probable Playing XIs-

Khulna Tigers-

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rilee Rossouw, Shamsur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (C & WK), Najibullah Zadran, Robbie Frylinck, Mohammad Amir, Shafiul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Aminul Islam Biplob

Bench – Hashim Amla, Aamer Yamin, Alauddin Babu, Tanvir Islam, Saif Hassan,  Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Robiul Haque

Rajshahi Royals

Liton Das, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Irfan Sukkur (wk), Alok Kapali, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell (C), Mohammad Nawaz, Farhad Reza, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Abu Jayed Rahi, Mohammad Irfan

Bench: Taijul Islam, Ravi Bopara, Hazratullah Zazai, Nahidul Islam, Minhajul Abedin Afridi

Top Picks:

Khulna Tigers- 115 and 78- These have been Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s scores in the last two games. How he and Tigers will hope he does an encore on the grand finale. Apart from Shanto, Rilee Rossow and Mushfiqur Rahim will be the key.

Mohammad Amir ran through the Royals during his spell of 6-17. He will once again spearhead the bowling unit while Robbie Frylinck and Mehidy Hasan could prove to be the X-factors.

Rajshahi Royals-  The reason behind the batting struggles of Rajshahi Royals in the past two games has been the misfiring opening unit of Liton Das and Afif Hossain, and they’ll hope that the duo can step-up on the big day. Shoaib Malik and Andre Russell will be the absolute key to their fortunes with both bat and ball.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain – Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell, Mohammad Amir

Vice-Captain –  Mushfiqur Rahim, Rilee Rossow, Liton Das,

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Irfan Sukkur

Batters – Nazmul Hossain Shanto (VC), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik (C), Afif Hossain

All-Rounders- Andre Russell, Robbie Frylinck

Bowlers – Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Amir, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Irfan

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Mushfiqur Rahim (C)

Batters – Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Najibullah Zadran, Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik

All-Rounders- Mehedy Hasan Miraz (VC), Robbie Frylinck

Bowlers – Shafiul Islam, K Islam Rabbi, Farhad Reza, Mohammad Irfan

Expert Advice:

Shoaib Malik and Andre Russell have proven their worth with bat and ball throughout the tournament. On the other hand, Nazmul Shanto and Mohammad Amir have been brilliant for Khulna Tigers. So can pick them as C or VC in your Dream11 Fantasy team.

Probable Winners:

Khulna Tigers are expected to be crowned the champions.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

The Bangladesh Premier League is all set to crown a brand-new winner. Khulna Tigers and the Rajshahi Royals will be crossing swords in the Final on Friday night at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Both sides had similar campaigns in the round-robin stage, winning eight out of 12 matches each. In the ongoing tournament, the Tigers have gotten the better of the Royals twice.

Mushfiqur Rahim’s Tigers, after topping table, thumped the Royals in the Qualifier 1 to book a berth in the final. The Royals, on the other hand, found themselves in a rabbit role in the Qualifier 2 versus Chattogram Challengers. However, Andre Russell’s 22-ball 54 saved the day for them. The Royals have played the final once back in 2016 while the Tigers have never come this far in the T20 league.

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch in Mirpur has been a sporting one thus far. Batting has looked a bit tough at times, but it hasn’t stopped teams from piling on runs. The bowlers have extracted a fair bit from the surface. Change of pace has paid dividends to a large extent. The conditions will be hazy with the temperature around the 22 degrees Celsius mark. The humidity will mostly be in the 60s and 70s.

Team Combination

Khulna Tigers

The Tigers have found a power-packed opening pair. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto have given their team positive starts, scoring 288 and 308 runs respectively. Due to their rise, Mushfiqur Rahim and Rilee Rossouw have gotten some breathing space. The duo has 528 runs.

Najibullah Zadran and Robbie Frylinck add further firepower to their batting. Shamsur Rahman needs to up the ante as well. In the bowling department, Mohammad Amir, Robbie Frylinck and Shahidul Islam have a combined tally of 55 wickets. Biplob and Shafiul Islam have done a decent job.

Probable XI

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rilee Rossouw, Shamsur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (C & WK), Najibullah Zadran, Robbie Frylinck, Mohammad Amir, Shafiul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Aminul Islam Biplob

Rajshahi Royals

The Royals’ batting seemed to have lost a bit of bite in the last couple of games. Liton Das and Afif Hossain Dhrubo need to find back their momentum. Irfan Sukkur scored in the 40s last time, but looked out of sorts. Veteran Shoaib Malik has 446 runs, but had a torrid time against Challengers.

Mohammad Nawaz may get a promotion after his clean-hitting last time. The Royals’ would be breathing sigh of relief after Andre Russell came back to form with the bat in hand. The Jamaican all-rounder is their joint highest-wicket-taker along with Mohammad Irfan, having picked up 12 wickets.

Probable XI

Liton Das, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Irfan Sukkur (wk), Alok Kapali, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell (C), Mohammad Nawaz, Farhad Reza, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Abu Jayed Rahi, Mohammad Irfan

Probable Top Performers

Rilee Rossouw – Khulna Tigers |Shoaib Malik– Rajshahi Royals

Broadcast Details

Online– YouTube

Match Timings – 06:30 PM IST, and 07:00 PM local time

The prediction is for Khulna Tigers to win the match.

At one stage, Rajshahi Royals were seeming to go down without a fight in their Qualifier 2 against Chattogram Challengers. But Andre Russell, their captain, got them back with some lusty blows. In the end, he managed to win his team game by a couple of wickets. He got a 22-ball 54 with two fours and seven sixes. With the victory, the Royals have set up the Final clash against the Khulna Tigers.

Chris Gayle switches on demolition mode

The Challengers got off to a flying start courtesy Chris Gayle. The Jamaican went bonkers from the outset and notched his maiden fifty this season off 21 balls. The left-hander went on to score 60 off 24 with six fours and five sixes. Afif Hossain Dhrubo rattled his woodwork to give the Royals a breather. Mahmudullah also fired on all cylinders, scoring 33 with three fours and as many sixes.

But once the duo perished in a space of an over, the Challengers innings’ fell apart. In the last 10 overs , Mahmudullah’s men managed 54 runs. If not for Asela Gunaratne’s 25-ball 31, the Challengers would’ve strained to cross the 150-run mark. In the end, they huffed and puffed to 164 for nine. For the Royals, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Nawaz had combined figures of 8-2-29-4.

Andre Russell destroys the Challengers

The Royals had early jitters in their chase. Afif Hossain mistimed a pull off Rubel Hossain to give the Challengers their first wicket. Liton Das got out, attempting a suicidal run. Alok Kapali’s vigil was brought to an end by Mahmudullah. Meanwhile, Irfan Sukkur (42) kept the scoreboard ticking by rotating the strike and getting the odd boundary. Shoaib Malik again came in with his team in worry.

In the 14th over, the required rate touched 12. Shoaib Malik had a miserable stay in the middle, scoring a 22-ball 14. With 85 runs needed off 40 balls, the onus was on Andre Russell to see his team through. The skipper cleared the ropes and brought the target down to 31 off 12 balls.

In the 19th over, he muscled 17 overs off Mahedi Hasan Rana. Abu Jayed hit a four off the last ball of the over to bring the target down to eight in the final over. Russell played out a couple of dot balls, but spanked Asela Gunaratne for a maximum. Not to forget Nawaz’s contribution of 14 off five.

Brief Scores

Chattogram Challengers: 164/9 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 60, Mahmudullah 33; Mohammad Nawaz 2/13)

Rajshahi Royals: 165/8 in 19.2 overs (Andre Russell 54* Irfan Sukkur 45; Rubel Hossain 2/32)

Rajshahi Royals win by two wickets.

Match Details:

The 2nd Qualifier of the 2019-20 Bangladesh Premier League will be played between Rajshahi Royals and Chattogram Challengers at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. 

The match starts at 06:30 PM local time (12:30 PM GMT) (06:00 PM IST). This game can be viewed on the Fan Code app in India.

Preview for Dream11 Fantasy:

With Khulna Tigers having already booked their place for the summit clash of the 2019-20 Bangabandhu BPL, both Chattogram Challengers and Rajshahi Royals will be looking to seal the remaining spot, when they lock horns in the second qualifier on Wednesday.

After having lost the first qualifier against Khulna Tigers, Rajshahi Royals will get another crack at claiming the spot in the finals. Chasing 159, the Royals could only muster 131 despite Shoaib Malik racking up a whirlwind 80 off 50 balls, as the remaining batsman had no answers to Mohammad Amir’s (6-17) onslaught, who notched the best individual figures by a bowler in BPL history.

They’ll have their task cut-out though when they face Chattogram Challengers, who earned their way to the Qualifier 2 with a clinical seven-wicket win over Dhaka Platoon with their top-4 leading the way in their run-chase of 145.

Weather Condition/Report

It is expected to be a bright and sunny day in Dhaka on Wednesday. According to the weather report, the city is expected to get bathed in sunshine throughout the day. While the temperature is set to fluctuate between 14 and 24 degrees Celsius, the humidity is set to hover around 75%. Moreover, there is no chance of rain playing a spoilsport on Wednesday.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium has provided a fair balance between the bat and ball. While the batsmen, who have dug in, have got a fair value for runs, the bowlers too have had something to say, as Amir did during his spell of 6-17. Much of the same should be expected on Wednesday.

Average first innings score:– 168 [In the last five games at the venue this season]

Record of chasing teams: Won – 3, Lost – 4

Injury and Availability:

(Will be shared if there’s an update)

Probable Playing XIs for Dream11 Fantasy

Rajshahi Royals

Liton Das (wk), Afif Hossain, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell (c), Ravi Bopara, Alok Kapali, Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Irfan, Abu Jayed

Bench: Irfan Sukkur, Nahidul Islam, Minhajul Abedin Afridi

Chattogram Challengers

Chris Gayle, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah (C), Chadwick Walton, Nurul Hasan Sohan (wk), Asela Gunaratne, Ziaur Rahman Nasum Ahmed, Ryad Emrit,  Mehedi Hasan Rana, Rubel Hossain

Bench –Muktar Ali, Jubair Hossain, Enamul Haque Jnr, Liam Plunkett, Junaid Siddique, Ryan Burl

Top Picks

Rajshahi Royals- The fact that Shoaib Malik (80) scored more than 60% of his team’s total (133 all-out) in the Qualifier 1, goes to show how their batsmen struggled against Mohammed Amir. Liton Das and Afif Hossain have had great success this season, and the Royals will hope that the duo gives them an ideal start in the Qualifier 2. The likes of Ravi Bopara, Shoaib Malik, and Andre Russell could prove to be x-factors while Mohammad Irfan will lead the bowling unit.

Chattogram Challengers- Each of their top-4- Chris Gayle [39], Ziaur Rahman [25], Imrul Kayes [32] and Mahmudullah [34]- were instrumental in Challengers successfully overhauling the total of 144. They will once again be the key against the Royals. Rayad Emrit claimed three wickets in the last game while Rubel Hossain and Nasum Ahmed chipped in with two. These players should be picked in your Dream11 Fantasy side.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain –  Shoaib Malik, Chris Gayle, Liton Das, Ravi Bopara

Vice-Captain – Andre Russell, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Liton Das (VC), Chadwick Walton

Batters – Imrul Kayes, Afif Hossain, Alok Kapali, Shoaib Malik (C)

All-Rounders- Mahmudullah, Ravi Bopara

Bowlers – Rayad Emrit, Mohammad Irfan, Farhad Reza

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Liton Das, Nurul Hasan

Batters – Chris Gayle (C), Imrul Kayes (VC), Afif Hossain Shoaib Malik

All-Rounders- Mahmudullah, Ravi Bopara

Bowlers – Mehidy Hasan-Rana, Farhad Reza, Nasum Ahmed

Expert Advice:

Both sides have got enough ammunition in their batting unit. Hence, opting for the likes of Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik as captain/vice-captain of your Dream11 Fantasy side can be a good punt.

Probable Winners:

Chattogram Challengers is expected to come out as the winners.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

Rajshahi Royals had a horrendous outing against the Khulna Tigers with Mohammad Amir getting a six-wicket haul. Despite Shoaib Malik’s 80, the Royals stumbled in their run-chase. But, Andre Russell and Co will have another bite at the cherry. After the loss, the Royals are set to lock horns with the Chattogram Challengers in the Qualifier 2 on January 15 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

In the round-robin stage, both the teams defeated each other once. The Challengers, led by Mahmudullah, are in good stead. They knocked Dhaka Platoon out with a seven-wicket victory in the Eliminator. They lost players like Lendl Simmons and Kesrick Williams, but it hasn’t rattled them. Also, the fact that Mahmudullah returned to their setup has strengthened them even further.

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch in Dhaka has behaved indifferently at times. Even as the batsmen have found the conditions favourable, the bowlers have had their say as well. Teams batting second have had slightly more advantage and hence, chasing should be the way forward. The atmosphere will be hazy with the temperature around 20 degrees Celsius. The humidity will mostly be in the high 70s.

Team Combination

Rajshahi Royals

Liton Das and Afif Hossain have given the Royals brisk starts on several occasions and will have to deliver. Malik is their leading run-scorer thus far with 432 runs at an average of 43.20. The knock he played against the Tigers, though in a losing cause, would keep him in a positive frame of mind.

Ravi Bopara and Andre Russell can tonk the leather a fair distance. The duo has also been a key in the bowling attack. Dre-Russ in their top wicket-taker with 11 scalps. Mohammad Irfan has also spit venom with 10 wickets. Kapali, Jayed, Kamrul Islam and Afif have chipped in with bits and pieces.

Probable XI

Liton Das (wk), Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Shoaib Malik, Alok Kapali, Ravi Bopara, Andre Russell (C), Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Abu Jayed Rahi, Mohammad Irfan

Chattogram Challengers

The Challengers’ batting has been their strong point thus far. Chris Gayle has scored runs, though he needs to up his strike-rate. The move to Ziaur Rahman also paid off in the Eliminator. The middle-order has the likes of Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes, and both have been in jaw-dropping form.

The likes of Chadwick Walton and Nurul Hasan add depth to their batting. Rubel Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Rana have a combined tally of 35 wickets, showing the impact they have had. Rayad Emrit got three wickets last time and is in good form. Nasum and skipper Riyad have been decent as well.

Probable XI

Chris Gayle, Ziaur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah (C), Chadwick Walton, Nurul Hasan Sohan (wk), Asela Gunaratne, Rayad Emrit, Rubel Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mehedi Hasan Rana

Probable Top Performers

Liton Das – Rajshahi Royals |Imrul Kayes– Chattogram Challengers

Broadcast Details

Online– YouTube

Match Timings – 06:00 PM IST, and 06:30 PM local time

The prediction is for the team, batting second to win the match.

Rajshahi Royals and Khulna Tigers had pretty similar campaigns in the round-robin stage of the Bangabandhu BPL. However, on Monday night, Mushfiqur Rahim’s Tigers roared and qualified for the final of the T20 tournament. They beat the Royals by 27 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The Royals will now be locking horns with the Chattogram Challengers on Wednesday.

Shanto rides on his luck

The Tigers made a horrid start as Mohammad Irfan rocked them back. The speedster churned out a double wicket-maiden, getting Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rilee Rossouw for a golden duck. But Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shamsur Rahman put on 78 for the third wicket to set the ball rolling. Shanto got a lifeline, when Shoaib Malik castled him off a no-ball. He made full use of the chance.

Ravi Bopara removed Shamsur, who got a 31-ball 32, to give the Royals something to cheer about. At the other end, Shanto went on to notch a fifty off 36 balls. The southpaw stayed unbeaten on 78 off 57 with seven fours and four sixes. Mushfiqur Rahim (21) had to retire hurt after hobbling while taking a run. Najibullah’s cameo of 12 runs helped the Tigers post a competitive 158 in 20 overs.

Amir blows away the Royals

Mohammad Amir cleaned up Liton Das to deliver a massive jolt in the Royals’ camp. In his next over, the speedster nipped out Afif Hossain Dhrubo to set the alarm bell ringing in the opposition camp. In the same over, he found Alok Kapali’s outside edge. Amir wreaked move havoc as he sent back Andre Russell for a five-ball duck. Robbie Frylinck got Ravi Bopara and added to the wickets-column.

Shoaib Malik kept seeing the carnage from the other end. He got to his fifty off 39 balls. The required-rate kept mounting and the Tigers needed 74 off the last four overs. In the 17th over, he took 21 runs off Shafiul Islam to keep the Royals’ hopes alive. Amir picked up a fifer, dismissing Taijul Islam. The pacer sent back Malik, who ended on 80 off 50, and ended the Royals’ hopes of a victory.

Brief Scores

Khulna Tigers: 158/3 in 20 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 78*, Shamsur Rahman 32; Mohammad Irfan 2/13)

Rajshahi Royals: 131 all out in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 80, Taijul Islam 12; Mohammad Amir 6/17)

Khulna Tigers win by

Match Details:

The Qualifier 1 game of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2019-20 will be played between Khulna Tigers and  Rajshahi Royals at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.

The match starts at 06:30 PM local time (12:30 PM GMT) (6:00 PM IST). This game can be viewed on the Fan Code app in India.

Match Preview for Dream11 Fantasy:

Khulna Tigers ended as the number one team in the group stage. They will certainly be the favourites to win the game against Rajshahi Royals. They have all their bases covered with the players performing convincingly well in the ongoing tournament.

They boast a strong batting line-up that comprises of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan, Rilee Rossouw and Mushfiqur Rahim. They are just one win away from cementing their place in the finals of BPL 2019-20. Also, their players will look to come with power back performances to help their side win the clash against Rajshahi Royals.

Rajshahi Royals strength is their in-form top order that is consistently piling up runs against their opponents. One place at which they need to work hard is their bowling that looked quite inconsistent so far in the tournament. They defeated Chattogram Challengers in their last league game. And, they would be eager to continue with the same momentum in the upcoming encounter against Khulna Tigers.

Weather Condition/Report

There are no chances of rain on the match day and perfect weather is expected for a cricket match. The wind is expected to blow at a rate between 9 and 11 Km/hr whereas the temperature will deviate between 13 and 25 Degree Celsius throughout the day according to Accuweather.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The pitch at Dhaka during the first leg offered a fair balance between the bat and the ball. The spinners will have their say as they will get some turn from the wicket. On the other hand, the batters have to get settled on the wicket to judge the behaviour of the track before they start playing their strokes. Meanwhile, the side winning the toss will look to bat first as far as the trends of this tournament are concerned.

Average first innings score:– 175 [In the last five games at the venue this season]

Record of chasing teams: Won – 2, Lost – 3

Injury and Availability:

(Will update if there is any news)

Probable Playing XIs:

Rajshahi Royals

Liton Das (wk), Afif Hossain, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell (c), Ravi Bopara, Alok Kapali, Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Irfan, Abu Jayed

Bench: Irfan Sukkur, Nahidul Islam, Minhajul Abedin Afridi

Khulna Tigers

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan, Rilee Rossouw, Mushfiqur Rahim (C & WK), Najibullah Zadran, Shamsur Rahman, Robbie Frylinck, Mohammad Amir, Shafiul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Aliss Islam

Bench – Hashim Amla, Aamer Yamin, Alauddin Babu, Tanvir Islam, Saif Hassan, Aminul Islam, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Robiul Haque

Top Picks:

Rilee Rossouw is expected to replicate his influential form with the bat in the next match for his side. He is the leading run-scorer for Khulna Tigers with 458 runs in his 12 outings. Mushfiqur Rahim will also look to bolster some runs with his wooden sword in the upcoming game and he will play an important role in any Dream11 Fantasy side. Najmul Hossain Shanto will be another important player to watch out in the crucial clash between the two heavyweights.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain –Robbie Frylinck, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shoaib Malik

Vice-Captain – Rilee Rossouw, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper –Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim (VC)

Batters – Rilee Rossouw (C), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shoaib Malik, Alok Kapali

All-Rounders – Robbie Frylinck, Mohammad Nawaz

Bowlers – Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Amir, Shahidul Islam

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper –Liton Das

Batters – Rilee Rossouw, Afif Hossain (C), Shoaib Malik, Najibullah Zadran

All-Rounders – Robbie Frylinck (VC), Andre Russell

Bowlers – Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Amir

Expert Advice:

The top-order from Khulna Tigers is performing in the top-notch form in the ongoing tournament. So, don’t ignore them while picking the Grand League side.

Probable Winners:

Khulna Tigers is expected to come out as the winners.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

The Khulna Tigers and Rajshahi Royals are two of the teams, who are yet to get their hands on the BPL Trophy. However, thus far, the two sides have been exceptional thus far. They won eight out of their 12 games and are now set to play the Qualifier 1 in the second of Monday’s doubleheader on Monday. Both sides have won their respective last matches and are in a positive frame of mind.

While the Royals took down the Chattogram Challengers, the Tigers chased down in excess of 200 against the Dhaka Platoon. The Royals have a better record than the Tigers in the playoffs. Even as the Royals were the runners-up back in 2016, the Tigers have won only a solitary game in the same round back in 2016. If the Tigers manage to win, then they will be playing the final for the first time.

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium has been an absolute belter. However, the bowlers also have had their stay at various stages, especially the spinners. The dew factor is likely to come into play and therefore, batting second should be the safer option. The conditions will be hazy with the temperature around the 19 degrees Celsius mark. The humidity will mostly be in the high 70s.

Team Combination

Khulna Tigers

The Tigers’ batting has been in rollicking form. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 115* last time and is brimming with confidence. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the other opener, has 289 runs with a couple of fifties. Mushfiqur Rahim and Rilee Rossouw have been the linchpin of the batting with over 900 runs.

The rest of the batting hasn’t had much to do. In the bowling department, Robbie Frylinck and Shahidul Islam have 18 and 17 wickets respectively. Frylinck has also been miserly with an economy of 7.33. Mohammad Amir has 12 wickets as well. Aminul Islam Biplob has also been fairly decent.

Probable XI

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rilee Rossouw, Mushfiqur Rahim (C & WK), Shamsur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Robbie Frylinck, Aminul Islam Biplob, Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Amir, Shahidul Islam

Rajshahi Royals

Liton Das has been exceptional for the Royals. The opener has scored 422 runs with three half-centuries to his credit. Afif Hossain Dhrubo has lent him support with 347 runs at the top of the order. Shoaib Malik has been a tad inconsistent of late, yet has 352 runs at an average of 39.11.

The likes of Russell, Bopara and Reza can also smack the leather a fair distance. Russell and Bopara have played key roles with the ball as well, having picked up 11 and eight wickets respectively. Abu Jayed, Mohammad Irfan and Kamrul Islam have also chipped in with wickets in crucial junctures.

Probable XI

Liton Das (wk), Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Shoaib Malik, Andre Russell (C), Ravi Bopara, Alok Kapali, Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Irfan, Abu Jayed Rahi

Probable Top Performers

Rilee Rossouw – Khulna Tigers |Afif Hossain Dhrubo– Rajshahi Royals

Broadcast Details

Online– YouTube

Match Timings – 06:00 PM IST, and 06:30 PM local time

The prediction is for the team, batting second to win the match.

Rajshahi Royals have become the first team of the Qualifier 1 in the ongoing Bangabandhu BPL 2019-20. The Andre Russell-led unit beat the Chattogram Challengers by eight wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. For the Challengers, they are most likely to play the Eliminator. For them to end in the top two, the game between Dhaka Platoon and Khulna Tigers can’t have a winner.

Mahmudullah rescues the Challengers

The Challengers didn’t make the most auspicious starts as they managed 38 runs in the powerplay, though without losing wicket. Shoaib Malik removed Junaid Siddiqui (23) in the seventh over to strike first blood. Chris Gayle hit two sixes and a four, but could only score 2. In the quest to take Afif Hossain to the cleaners, he perished. Abu Jayed castled Chadwick Walton to exert more pressure.

From there on, Mahmudullah (48*) and Nurul Hasan Sohan (30) upped the ante. The duo put on 38 runs in 25 balls before Mohammad Irfan accounted for Hasan’s wicket in the penultimate over. In the last three overs, the Challengers racked up 45 runs and got themselves up to 155 in 20 overs. Mahmudullah stayed unbeaten, having smashed three sixes and a couple of fours in his innings.

Liton Das rips apart Challengers

The Royals openers took the Chattogram bowling by the scruff of its neck from the outset. Liton Das (75) and Afif Hossain (32) played their strokes freely and put on 60 runs in the powerplay. The onslaught brought the required rate below seven runs per over. Nasum Ahmed gave the Challengers their first wicket. The left-arm spinner induced a false stroke off Afif and broke the 88-run stand.

Liton carried on and got to his fifty off 29 balls. Ziaur Rahman eventually nipped him out, but by then the Royals needed 18 runs off 26 deliveries. Shoaib Malik managed to recover from a mini rough patch. The veteran scored 43 off 25 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. The Tigers comfortably chased down the target with 14 balls to spare and also moved to the top of the table.

Brief Scores

Chattogram Challengers: 155/5 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 48*, Nurul Hasan Sohan 30; Mohammad Irfan 1/24)

Rajshahi Royals: 156/2 in 17.4 overs (Liton Das 75, Shoaib Malik 43*; Nasum Ahmed 1/33)

Rajshahi Royals win by eight wickets.