Russell’s all-round heroics not enough for Dhaka

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh (CMC):

All-rounder Andre Russell snatched a hat-trick and then struck a cameo, but West Indies teammates Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine both failed to score as star-studded Dhaka Dynamites slumped to their fourth straight defeat in the Bangladesh Premier League with an 11-run loss to Chittagong Vikings here yesterday.

Choosing to bat first, Vikings rallied to 174 for five from their 20 overs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, with opener Cameron Delport slamming 71 off 57 balls and captain Rahim getting 43 from 24 deliveries.

Deport put on 42 for the first wicket with Mohammad Shazad (21) and a further 46 for the second with Yasir Ali (19) before off-spinner Narine (2-20) broke both partnerships.

However, it was Deport’s 79-run, third-wicket stand with Rahim Mushfiqur that really galvanised the innings before Russell pulled things back in the final over with his hat-trick.Off the first delivery, he claimed Rahim, holing out to long on off a full toss and then prised out Delport to a catch, also down the ground.

Dasun Shanaka scooped the first ball he faced to short fine leg to give Russell (3-38) the third hat-trick of the season.

In reply, Dhaka were struggling on 23 for three in the fourth over, but captain Shakib-al-Hasan stroked 53 in a 50-run, fourth- wicket stand with Nurul Hasan (33) to revive the innings.

Nurul perished in the 10th over and Rahim off the next ball.

Pollard ran himself out needlessly off the first ball he faced.

Russell arrived to slam four fours and a couple of sixes in 39 off 23 balls, in a 66-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Shakib, which looked like winning the game for Dhaka.

But Russell picked out Deport at deep midwicket with a full toss from seamer Shanaka in the 17th over, and the innings suffered from loss of momentum.

In the other match of the double-header, West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran extended his superb form with an unbeaten 76 for Sylhet Sixers but was unable to prevent Rajshahi Kings from taking a crucial five-wicket win. Scores: Sixers, 189 for five; Kings 190 for five with two overs to spare.