DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 star, Kieron Pollard, lashed a now rare half-century to end a poor run of form, as his Dhaka Dynamites edged Chris Gayle’s Rangpur Riders by two runs in a last-over thriller in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
Sent in at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dynamites posted a challenging 183 for nine off their 20 overs, with Pollard blasting a top score of 62 off just 26 balls.
In reply, Gayle failed with just eight but Riders still took it down to the wire, barely missing out after requiring 14 from the last over and four runs from the final delivery.
The victory kept Dynamites unbeaten in three matches and top of the standings with six points while Riders remained second on four points from two wins in four matches.
Dynamites were 33 for three in the fourth over before the revival began, first with captain Shakib-al-Hasan who made a patient 36 from 37 balls in a 31-run fourth wicket stand with Mizanur Rahman (15).
Pollard then arrived to add further impetus to the innings, striking five fours and four sixes, as he dominated a 78-run, fifth wicket partnership with Shakib, en route to a 21-ball half-century.
When Pollard and Shakib perished in successive overs to leave Dynamites 161 for six at the end of the 17th over, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell added the finishing touches with three sixes in a cameo 13-ball 23.
Riders then lost Gayle early in the run chase, thanks to a stunning effort by Russell and Pollard on the straight boundary.
The left-hander seemed set to clear the ropes with off-spinner Shuvagata Hom but Russell raced around from long-off to haul in the catch while tumbling over of the ropes. He, however, let the ball go in time for Pollard coming around from long on to complete the catch.
Gayle was one of two wickets to fall as Riders slipped to 25 for two in the fourth over but South African Rilee Roussouw came to his side’s rescue, stroking a superb 83 off 44 balls to nearly stun Dynamites.
He hit eight fours and four sixes, anchoring a 121-run, third wicket partnership with Mohammad Mithun who made an exciting 49 from 35 deliveries.
When Roussouw fell in the 16th over, the innings lost momentum and even though Shafiul Islam (10 not out) lashed two fours off the first two balls of the final over, Riders still came up short.
West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine finished with two for 40.
