Rajshahi Shocks Dhaka in Bangabandhu T20 Opener

Mehedi Hasan's all-round performance helped Minister Rajshahi to upset title aspirant Beximco Dhaka in the opening game of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.

The young off-spinner kept his cool and guided his team to a two-run win as he restricted Muktar Ali from scoring required the 9 runs in the last over.

Dhaka ended up putting 167 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs chasing 170 runs to win.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Akbar Ali (34) put on 69 runs on the board from 53 balls in their fourth-wicket partnership and Dhaka looked well poised to earn a comfortable win but Farhad Reza broke the partnership bringing Rajshahi back into the game.

Mushfiqur got the duty to guide the team but the skipper failed to fulfill the responsibility as he ended up giving a catch to wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan trying to scoop Ebadat Hossain.

Muktar Ali's unbeaten 16-ball 27 runs kept Dhaka's hope alive but Mehedi had other plans and came up with a match-winning last over.

''I think Akbar Ali's wicket was important as at that point it was difficult for anyone to come and score freely,'' said Mushfiqur Rahim.

''I think we did not bowl well while Mehedi and Sohan's partnership was vital,'' he said.

Winning captain Nazmul Hasan said that he was happy to start the tournament on a perfect note and praised Mehedi's all-around effort.

''Mehedy was outstanding both with the bat and ball. He was really impressive,'' said Nazmul. 

Mehedi Hasan smashed 50 runs off 32 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes to help his team put 169 runs for 9 wickets against Beximco Dhaka at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain of Dhaka, won the toss and sent Rajshahi to bat first. Najmul Hossain Shanto, captain of Rajshahi and Anisul Islam Emon added 31 runs in 3.5 overs opening the innings.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed scalped the first wicket removing Najmul for 17 runs off 16 balls with 2 sixes. In their road to 65 from 31, Rajshahi lost four more wickets namely Rony Taluker (6), Mohammad Ashraful (5), Emon (35) and Fazle Mahmud (0).

But in the sixth wicket stand, Nurul Hasan and Mehedi added 89 runs. Nurul made 39 runs off 20 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. And, Mehedi smashed the first fifty of the event in style. Eventually, Rajshahi posted 169 for 9 wickets in 20 overs.

For Dhaka, Muktar Ali took 3 wickets conceding 22 runs in 4 overs while Mehedi Hasan Rana, Nasum Ahmed and Nayeem Hasan took one wicket each.