Barishal thrash Rajshahi to begin title-defense in style

Published at : 31 December 2024, 10:00 am
Barishal thrash Rajshahi to begin title-defense in style

Defending Champions Fortune Barishal kicked off their title-defense in emphatic fashion as they recovered from a shaky start to thrash Durbar Rajshahi by four wickets in high-scoring match of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
 
Rajshahi put up a respectable 197-7, riding on a blazing 94 [not out] of Yasir Ali and looked well set to win the game when they reduced Barishal to 61-5 in ninth over.

But a magical knock of veteran Mahmudullah Riyad, ably supported by Fahim Ashraf helped them clinch a victory as they gunned down the total with 11 balls to spare by reaching 200-6.

The 39-year old Mahmudullah hammered 26 ball-56 with five fours and four sixes and Pakistan recruit Ashraf who smashed a six nonchalantly to seal the victory was unbeaten on 54, after belting one four and seven towering sixes in just 21 balls.

They shared 88 off just 47 deliveries for the unbeaten seventh wicket stand to leave Rajshahi scratching their hair.

Taskin Ahmed claimed 3-31 for Rajshahi and put the side briefly on top before the hammering of Mahmudullah and Ashraf.

He removed Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal for 7 and Caribbean dangerman Kyle Mayers for 6 before Jishan Alam removed Najmul Hossain Shanto for duck in the first ball of the innings.

Towhid Hridoy was the only one from the top order to wage a battle, hitting 23 ball-32. Hasan Murad dismissed Hridoy and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim for 13 in consecutive two overs to make Rajshahi heavily favourite to win the game.

Mahmudullah and Shaheen Shah Afridi who went wicket-less with the ball, offered resistance first, adding 51 runs for the sixth wicket.

Taskin returned to second spell to break through with the wicket of Shaheen but Mahmudullah and Ashraf blitz ruined his impeccable effort at the end.

Barishal's victory by overhauling a big target also crushed the party of Yasir Ali who made his career-best 94 [not out] to give the side a hope of a winning start.

Yasir Ali smote seven fours and eight sixes off just 47 balls. He got an ample support captain Anamul Haque Bijoy after Barishal put Rajshahi into bat first. Bijoy struck 51 ball-65 with five fours and four sixes.

As Yasir was denied his maiden century after taking just single in the penultimate delivery, Rajshahi's chance to take the score past 200 was also dented.

Bijoy shared 140-run with Yasir for the third wicket after Rajshahi were at perilous 25-2.

Kyle Myers who took out both of Rajshahi openers ended with 2-13 in three overs for a team-best bowling.

Mushfiqur to play for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024

Published at : 24 September 2023, 03:42 pm
Mushfiqur to play for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

 

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar quits PSG to sign for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:06 pm
Neymar quits PSG to sign for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar ‘in negotiations’ over Saudi move as Mbappe returns to PSG good books

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:05 pm
Neymar ‘in negotiations’ over Saudi move as Mbappe returns to PSG good books

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.

PSG get better of Dortmund in Champions League opener

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:03 pm
PSG get better of Dortmund in Champions League opener

Paris Saint-Germain got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday as a Kylian Mbappe penalty set them up for a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes.

The French champions had dominated the first half without overly troubling the Dortmund defence, but they went ahead four minutes after the break when Mbappe scored a spot-kick awarded for a Niklas Suele handball.

Achraf Hakimi added a memorable second, and PSG could have won the Group F encounter by a far more handsome margin in the end.

The result immediately puts them in control of the group, after AC Milan and Newcastle United drew 0-0 earlier, and coach Luis Enrique will hope they can build on this performance when they visit the English side next in a fortnight.

"It was an almost perfect evening," said Luis Enrique.