Andre Russell was at his blistering best with both bat and ball to help the Dhaka Dynamites register a five-wicket win over Rangpur Riders and earn Wednesday’s Play of the Day award, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The Dynamites’ star-studded side rose to the occasion in the second eliminator match to defeat the table-topping (and ‘AB de Villiers-less’) Rangpur Riders by five wickets to qualify for their second consecutive final.
READ MORE: Rossouw stretches BPL lead
Russell was one of the Dynamites’ chief protagonists as he picked up 2-31 in his four overs during the first innings, before registering an unbeaten 40 runs in the second to take the last edition’s beaten finalists to the final once again.
Dhaka Dynamites won by 5 wickets against Rangpur Riders #DDvRR #BPL #BPLseason6 pic.twitter.com/tPs5v4aLn7
— BPLT20 (@Official_BPLT20) February 6, 2019
Russell showed his class during the death overs by dismissing both Farhad Reza (four off five balls) and Shafiul Islam (two-ball duck) in the 19th over by conceding just three runs to help his team restrict the Riders to 142 all out with three balls to spare.
The West Indian star then smashed a dominant 40 not out off 19 balls, including five blistering sixes – three of which were hit off the last three deliveries of the innings as Russell powered the Dynamites over the line within 17 overs.
READ ALSO: Russell downs records as Tallawahs triumph
It took a special bowling spell from Rubel Hossain (4-23 in 3.4 overs) – who accounted for danger men Chris Gayle (15 off 13 balls, 2×6) and Rilee Rossouw (golden duck), as well as top-scorer Ravi Bopara (49 off 43 balls, 6×4, 1×6) – to keep the Player of the Match award away from the Jamaican.
The Dynamites will face off against the Comilla Victorians on Friday in the final for the Bangladesh Premier League trophy.
Photo: Bangladesh Cricket Board
