Pakistan’s former Test player Azhar Mahmood put up a splendid allround show to help Dhaka Gladiators defeat Barisal Burners by 21 runs in a match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Dhaka on Tuesday.

He first blasted 77 not out off 47 deliveries, hitting three sixes and eight fours in the process, and then removed century-maker Chris Gayle at a crucial juncture to end all chances of Barisal of winning the game. Gayle hit 11 sixes and six fours in his 61-ball 116.

Mahmood also removed Mithun Ali (38), the other notable scorer for Barisal, on the last ball of the match as Barisal ended their 20 overs on 187 for five. Earlier, Imran Nazir (58 off 35 balls) combined with Mahmood after the fall of two early wickets in a 86-run stand. His ferocious inning included five sixes and three fours.

Mahmood then carried on with Pollard, who also hit five sixes during his 15-ball knock which produced 36 runs. He was declared man of the match. In the earlier game of the day, Marlon Samuels pushed Duronto Rajshahi to a 16-run win over Sylhet Royals.

His 72 runs, which came off 48 balls and included three fours and five sixes, formed the bedrock on which the Rajshahi inning was built as they got 171 for eight wickets in 20 overs.

He scored 56 runs with Mushfiqur Rahim (33) for the third wicket and 53 with Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq (30) for the fourth. Sylhet Royals failed to lift their run rate despite having a very good second-wicket partnership between Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal (56 off 41 balls) and skipper Peter Trego (37 off 34 balls).

They managed 155 runs in their 20 overs, despite having lost only four wickets. Samuels was declared man of the match.

Source: The News