In the first game of the double header on Sunday in the Bangladesh Premier League, Khulna Titans' 170 proved to be enough as they downed Chittagong Vikings by 18 runs to pick up their second win of the season.Abu Jayed's four-fer ensured that Vikings lost the plot right at the top and came back later again to take his team past the finishing line, as well as bagged the Man of the Match award.
Earlier in the day, Vikings, who won the toss and chose to field, couldn't have asked for a better start as they reduced Titans to 29 for 3. It took a dogged effort from Rilee Roussow to arrest the slide of wickets as he, along with Mahmudullah, added 39 runs for the fourth wicket to restore some calm.
Ariful Haque came in at the fall of Roussow and took over the mantle to provide the final-overs' propulsion as he plundered a 25-ball 40 in the company of Mahmudullah, who got a 40 too but off 33 balls. Just as Titans were settling for a total in the vicinity of 150, Carlos Brathwaite smashed three sixes and two fours en route a 14-ball 30 as their side ended with 170 on the board.
Jayed struck thrice in his first two overs to leave Vikings tottering at 21 for 3. Defiance came through some resilient batting from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Sikandar Raza but their 59-run stand was broken in the 14th over as Titans pounced back on top again. Misbah's wicket in the 16th over came across as the final knell in the coffin and although Luis Reece and Tanbir Hayder did their little bit to take the side through, they could only manage 152 in their allocated lot to hand Titans an 18-run victory. Though, they could only manage 152 in their allocated lot to hand Titans an 18-run victory.
'I am happy that I could do what I planned,' Jayed told reporters at the post match.'I have tried to swing the ball and it was planned by the team management to bowl in a specific area. I think I succeeded because I could bowl according to the plan,' he said. Vikings skipper Misbah-ul- Haque was disappointed to lose in this manner as he believed last three overs made all the difference.
'I think last three overs were costly especially after getting a very good start in bowling and getting early wickets I think we just managed to let them score over 150 and if it won't happen the game could have different,' said Mishbah.
'I think it was just the matter of finishing. The way me and Sikandar was going in that partnership we could not just manage to finish it in. If we batted until the end there was a chance but obviously we lost both wickets and that was the difference at the end,' he said.
'I think the planning was against Charlos Brathwaite and we all know that he is so good against the seam and so that is why bringing up the left-armer and later leg-spinner for him just it was a gamble to get him out. In that over he could not have chance to bowl against him and the local boy hit him 20 odd runs so it happens sometimes in cricket and sometime times the plans just don't work,' he added.