Dhaka Gladiators are through to the semi-final in the Bangladesh Premier League despite a three-wicket loss to Duronto Rajshahi in their last round robin league match in Dhaka on Monday.
Mohammad Sami became the first bowler to claim five wickets in BPL when he finished with a figure of 5-6 helping Rajshahi dismiss Gladiators for 116 runs in 18.2 overs.
Rajshahi in reply reached to 120-7 with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim staying unbeaten on 40. When Rajshahi went on to chase they were told that if they can win this match in 15.4 overs Dhaka will be eliminated from the tournament on the basis of net run rate, though it became irrelevant at the end.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board later in a clarification said that head-to-head record will be taken in to consideration before net run rate and in that count Dhaka and Chittagong Kings were both through to the semi-final even before this match.
However, neither Rajshahi nor Dhaka had any idea about this dubious rule and played for the run rate.
Dhaka captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza used all of his four specialist bowlers in the first 16 overs to prevent Rajshahi from winning the match before 15.4 overs and he was successful.
Mashrafee and Azhar Mahmood struck in the first two overs to reduce Rajshahi to 10-2 and they could not recover from the damage. When Elias Sunny dismissed Sean Ervine they were reduced to 5-74 in 12.4 overs and Rajshahi immediately decided not to take their chance.
With the win Rajshahi, with 14 points from 10 matches, ended the group phase on top of the table.
-With New Age input
