Date: 10 November 2016
Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Prelude: Both sides made winning starts to the tournament from their respective matches on Day 2 of the BPL Season 4. While the Titans came out victorious in a final ball thriller against Rajshahi Kings, Rangpur Riders demolished an established Chittagong Vikings side under lights in low scoring encounters yesterday. Both outfits looked strong in their bowling departments, and while Khulna Titans faltered at time with their catching and ground fielding, Rangpur Riders looked sharp in all departments combined.
Impact of Foreign recruits: Khulna Titans fielded 2 batsmen in RIki Wessels and Nicholas Pooran, and opted to go with the Pakistan duo of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Asghar to bolster its bowling ranks. While both batsmen were able to contribute quick, they would look to lengthen their innings when the next opportunity comes. Both Junaid and Asghar were mightuily impressive making their BPL debuts, and look almost certain to retain places in the starting eleven. Rangpur Riders had the dangerous Shahid Afridi along with Afghan keeper Shehzad, and both impressed with their performances, with the latter scoring the match-winning 80 batting at the top and will look to repeat his feat. English recruits pacer Gleeson and slow left-armer Liam Dawson did not fare well, and the Riders may look to make some changes in the balance of their line-up despite the easy first match victory.
Key Players: Titans skipper Mahmudullah almost single-handedly took the game in favor of his side with an all-round performance of note, and will be Khulna’s main man again. Nicholas Pooran will look to improve on his start this time round, and Alok Kapali will also have to step up a gear in both batting and bowling departments. Shoumya Sarkar of Rangpur Riders will be a key man beside the confident Shehzad at the top of the innings, while the spinners Shohag Gazi and Arafat Sunny will want a repeat performance of the Chittagong match which will give an upper hand to the franchise from Rangpur.
Playing conditions: Considering the dew factor that might lessen the effectiveness of the slower bowlers later on the in evening encounter, both teams may want to win the toss and field first.
An even contest is expected, and hopefully not as low-scoring as it was yesterday.