Dynamites gear up for Kings challenge in BPL 2016 summit clash

The in-form Dhaka Dynamites will face a rejuvenated Rajshahi Kings in what promises to be an engrossing summit clash for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2016 trophy at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Friday (December 9).

The high-flying Dynamites, who finished at the top of the table in the league stage, took only one attempt to enter the final as they conquered Khulna Titans with ease in the first Qualifier.

Dhaka have been well-served by the presence of quality allrounders in the form of Shakib Al Hasan, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell. With Nasir Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain to fall back on as well, the Dynamites have their bases covered.

In Kumar Sangakkara and Mehedi Maruf, they have two batsmen who have scored in excess of 300 runs in this edition and also have a power-packed bowling unit, in which Mohammad Shahid has picked up a fair share of wickets.

Meanwhile, it has been a tougher path for Rajshahi, who first had to win their final league game, which was a do-or-die battle, to better Rangpur Riders on net run-rate and then had to overcome Chittagong Vikings and Khulna in two more must-win encounters to book a spot in the final for the first time.

Rajshahi too have proven allrounders in their line-up. Strong overseas names such as skipper Darren Sammy, Samit Patel and James Franklin have helped turn their campaign around after at one stage they appeared struggling to cope with the race to the play-offs.

Apart from the allrounders, Rajshahi also have a strong domestic presence. Sabbir Rahman and Mominul Haque have done the bulk of the scoring and both have scored more than 300 runs this season. The 19-year-old Mehedi Hasan, who impressed in his debut series against England in late October, is a key player, as are Farhad Reza and Abul Hasan, who have also done well.

When: Dhaka Dynamites vs Rajshahi Kings, Final - December 9 at 17:45 local time (17:15 IST)Where: Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, DhakaWhat to expect: Mostly clear skies with a maximum of 25 degree Celsius. The pitch is expected to be slightly on the slower side.

Team News:

Although they have a host of overseas names to choose from, both teams are unlikely to tinker with their combination.

Did you know?

This is the third instance a Dhaka franchise is featuring in the BPL final. Dhaka Gladiators won the trophy in 2011/12 and 2012/13. However, this is the first appearance in the title clash for Rajshahi.

Dwayne Bravo (20) needs three more wickets to become the highest wicket taker in a single season of BPL. The current record is 22 by Kevon Cooper in the 2015/16 season.

Rajshahi beat Dhaka in both the league games this season with Samit Patel top scoring on both occasions with 44* and 75.

Teams:

Dhaka Dynamites: Mehedi Maruf, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Evin Lewis, Andre Russell, Nasir Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Ravi Bopara, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Dwayne Bravo, Alauddin Babu, Abu Jayed, Mahela Jayawardene, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Sunzamul Islam, Tanveer Haider, Usama Mir, Matt Coles, Ronsford Beaton, Irfan Sukkur

Rajshahi Kings: Mominul Haque, Nurul Hasan(w), Afif Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, James Franklin, Darren Sammy(c), Samit Patel, Mehedi Hasan, Farhad Reza, Nazmul Islam, Kesrick Williams, Abul Hasan, Ebadat Hossain, Mohammad Sami, Raqibul Hasan, Rony Talukdar, Salman Hossain, Umar Akmal, Delwar Hossain, Junaid Siddique