Moeen Ali produced a decisive all-round display as Sylhet Titans beat Dhaka Titans by 20 runs in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sylhet International Stadium, a result that lifted Sylhet above Rajshahi in the standings.
Batting first, Sylhet posted a competitive 180 for six from their 20 overs and then backed it up with a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Dhaka to 160 for eight. The victory was Sylhet’s fourth from eight matches, while Dhaka slipped to a fourth defeat in six games, leaving them under pressure in the race for the play-offs.
Dhaka began the chase brightly through openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Abdullah Al Mamun, who put on 56 runs in just 5.4 overs. Mamun struck 24 off 11 balls before his dismissal sparked a collapse. Dhaka then lost three wickets for 11 runs in 18 balls, including Shamim Hossain, who was caught on the boundary by Ethan Brookes off Moeen’s bowling.
Gurbaz attempted to hold the innings together, scoring 51 off 44 balls with three fours and two sixes, and added 37 runs from 24 deliveries with Saif Hassan. However, another sharp slide followed as Dhaka slumped from 104 for three to 113 for six in the space of 11 balls. The dismissals of Gurbaz and Saif, who made 22 off 14, effectively ended the chase. Dhaka eventually fell well short, unable to cross 160.
Salman Irshad led Sylhet’s bowling attack with figures of three for 25, while Moeen supported him with two for 20 from his four overs.
Earlier, Sylhet were given a steady start by openers Parvez Hossain and Tawfique Khan, who added 48 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Tawfique was dismissed for 17, and Parvez soon followed after making 32 off 24 balls, leaving Sylhet at 72 for three in the 12th over.
Ariful Islam and Azmatullah Omarzai then rebuilt the innings with a crucial 62-run partnership from 37 balls. Ariful, playing on his BPL debut, impressed with a composed 38 off 29 deliveries to top-score for Sylhet, while Omarzai struck 33 from 23 balls.
Moeen provided the decisive late surge, smashing 28 off just eight balls, including two fours and three sixes. Ethan Brookes and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added a six apiece in the final over as Sylhet finished strongly, scoring 88 runs in the last six overs to register their third total above 180 this season.
