Taylor leads Kings to crushing win

A change of captaincy has brought a change in fortune for Chittagong Kings as they raced to an eight-wicket win over Khulna Royal Bengals at the MA Aziz Stadium on Friday.
Brendan Taylor took over the rein from Mahmudullah and led the side from the front with his third fifty in the tournament as Kings made an easy ride to reach 137-2 after they had restricted Royal Bengals to 136-5.
Mahmudullah, Kings’ skipper for two seasons, was relieved of his captaincy after his callous run-out that cost them a close match against Barisal Burners in their
previous game.
With four defeats in five matches, they had no choice but to rethink their strategy, which was beyond explanation on some previous occasions. Taylor, the most
consistent performer for the side so far, was given the crucial role and he did not let them down.
Unlike Mahmudullah, who used eight bowlers against Burners apparently for no reason, Taylor cleverly selected his bowlers to be rewarded with regular strikes.
Enamul Haque Jr, Kings’ most accomplished spinner, who bowled just one over against Burners, got the chance to complete his quota and claimed three vital wickets for
28 runs.
For the first time in the tournament Shaun Tait also looked to be in some kind of rhythm as he conceded just 26 runs in his four overs and took the wicket of Riki
Wessels, the highest scorer for Royal Bengals with 35 from 32 balls.
Tait in fact got Wessels out twice in the match but the umpire erroneously called his first dismissal on 26 a no-ball. Before the decision becoming costly, Tait bowled
him again, something which had prevented Royal Bengals from going berserk in the final few overs.
Despite the small target there was no chance for Kings to be relaxed especially after they lost some close games from a potentially winning position. A sense of deja
vu gripped their thousands of cheering supporters in the gallery when opener Naeem Islam was out for six in the second over.
Ravi Bopara also missed a chance to shine having been dismissed on 13, but Taylor and Ryan ten Doeschate ensured there was no repeat of choking with a 93-run third-
wicket stand.
Taylor was unbeaten on 69 from 47 balls while Doeschate made 41 not out facing 34 balls as Kings knocked off the target with two overs to spare for their most
convincing win in the season.
BRIEF SCORES
Khulna Royal Bengals 136-5 in 20 overs (MH Wessels 35, TR Birt 25, DJ Harris 22 not out; Enamul Haque Jr 3-28) v Chittagong Kings 137-2 in 18 overs (B Taylor 69 not
out,
RN ten Doeschate 41 not out).
Result: Chittagong Kings won by 8 wickets.
Man of the match: B Taylor (CK)