In the spotlight of fantasy cricket, Durdanto Dhaka commanded attention during an intense encounter with Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024. The game, held on January 27, was match number 12 in the T20 League at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. There was a marked display of tension on the field when Babar Azam, a senior batter from Pakistan representing Rangpur Riders, was noticed in a fiery exchange with Durdanto Dhaka’s wicketkeeper, Irfan Sukkur.
The Rangpur Riders, having lost the toss, were set to bat first. Babar, as the opener, found himself in a verbal confrontation with Irfan Sukkur from Durdanto Dhaka. A trending video revealed Mohammed Naim Sheikh, a fellow Dhaka cricketer, trying to soothe Irfan, while conversation brewed between an irate Babar and the keeper. Even amidst the squaring off, Babar was involved in a related discussion with his batting partner, Mohammad Nabi. The argument was eventually quelled by the intervention of the on-field umpires.
Despite the disrupted atmosphere, Babar held onto his batting finesse and earned the title - Player of the Match, scoring an impactful 62 off 46 balls. His performance helped the Rangpur Riders set a challenging target of 183/8. In his journey with BPL 2024, Babar has notched up 120 runs across three matches, maintaining an average of 60.00 and a strike rate of 116.50.
Many other contributors, though overshadowed by Babar's stellar performance, were instrumental in Rangpur Riders’ inning. Notable performances included opener Brandon King's 20 off 13, skipper Nurul Hasan's 26 off 24, and Azmatullah Omarzai's fireworks of 32 off 15 balls. Off the Durdanto Dhaka's side, Arafat Sunny displayed resilient defense, catching three wickets.
In the end, the Rangpur Riders' supreme bowling talent stifled Durdanto Dhaka's pursuit, closing their inning at 104 in 16.3 overs. Notwithstanding Alex Ross's valiant effort of smashing 51 off 35, the rest of Durdanto Dhaka's lineup couldn't rise to the occasion. The impeccable bowling show by Rangpur Riders, headlined by Mahedi Hasan’s three wickets, and Omarzai and Hasan Mahmud bagging two each, resulted in a resounding 79-run win.
The points table of BPL 2024 now ranks Rangpur Riders in fourth place, bagging four points with a net run rate of +0.734.
