It’s do-or-die for Kings, Duronto

Chittagong Kings and Duronto Rajshahi will engage in a do-or-die clash today that will go a long way in determining which teams will go through to the play offs of the Bangladesh Premier League 2013.
The encounter between the Kings and Duronto has been rightly billed as a knockout clash as the winners of the tie will qualify for the play-off spot without bothering about the results of the other matches.
The loser would still be able to qualify, but that will depend on the outcome of the last game of Rangpur Riders, who are also in contention.
Dhaka Gladiators and Sylhet Royals have already qualified and confirmed the top two places and the battle for a place in the play offs or in other words the eliminator is now limited to the Kings, Duronto and the Riders.
The Kings have garnered 10 points from 10 games while Duronto have gathered the same number of points having played a game more than their south-eastern rivals. The Riders are hot on the heels of both the Kings and Duronto, with 10 points from 11 games.
A win for the Kings will be enough to send the port-city outfit to the play offs with Duronto and the Riders left to fight for the fourth and last-remaining spot.
In the case of a Kings win, Duronto will have to wait for the encounter between Barisal Burners and the Riders.
If the Riders win their last game of the campaign against Burners on Thursday then the Riders will be through to the play-offs with Duronto out of reckoning.
However, if the Riders lose then both Duronto and Riders will finish on the same number of points and the head-to-head record will come into play. As the two teams won one game against each other, therefore, the run rate will decide their fate.
In account of a Duronto victory against the Kings, then the north-west side will go through and the Kings will have to contest with the Riders for the last remaining place.
The Kings have to win their last game against the Gladiators and hope the Riders lose against the Burners as the Riders have a better head-to-head record against the Kings.
A win for the Kings against the Gladiators coupled with a win for the Riders will see the Kings crash out of the competition.
A loss for the Kings in the last game will, however, make things easier for the Riders with a defeat or a victory enough to send the Riders through to the play offs.
The winners of the tie between the Kings and Duronto will have a major say in the make-up of the play-off list and the onus was not lost on Khaled Mahmud, coach of the Kings.
‘It’s a do-or-die match for us as far as getting a place in the semi-final is concerned,’ Mahmud told reporters on Tuesday.
‘If we win then we stand a chance as the run-rate will come into affect,’ he added.
Meanwhile Khaled Mashud, coach of Duronto, was upbeat ahead of the crucial match as his side have beaten the Kings in a close encounter in the first leg of the league.
‘We have to beat them if we want to progress further in the tournament,’ Mashud, told reporters on Tuesday.
‘We have already defeated them earlier despite making a very low score so that result is naturally playing a part to boost our confidence,’ added Mashud.
The Kings lost their previous match against Duronto by just two runs after losing three wickets in three balls of the last over while chasing a target of just 100 runs.