BPL 2019, Qualifier 1: Rangpur Riders vs Comilla Victorians - Preview and Predicted Playing XI
After a highly competitive league stage concluded in the Bangladesh Premier League 2018-19 edition, it is now down to four teams out of whom the Rangpur Riders and Comilla Victorians face off in the Qualifier 1 on Monday.
Rangpur Riders have done the double over Comilla this season with Comilla being bundled out for less than 100 on both occasions. They also enter the match as the firm favourites with the likes of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle in their rank, although Comilla have also been impressive enroute to finishing second.
With the added incentive of having another go at the final, both teams should be able to play their natural game and put forth a game worth remembering.
Rangpur Riders
Batting:
What more can you ask for other than a top order consisting of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Rilee Rossouw? Rangpur have trumped all opposition with the help of the fearsome quartet they have and finished first in the league table as well.
Rilee Rossouw is the leading run-scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League this season with over 500 runs to his name. AB de Villiers and Alex Hales have hundreds this season while the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, has the ability to wreck bowling attacks quite effortlessly. With the likes of Mashrafe Mortaza and Nahidul Islam providing the depth in batting, Rangpur will look to post a good total or even chase it down successfully.
Bowling:
Farhad Reza and Mashrafe Mortaza have 36 wickets between them and have been pivotal to Rangpur's successful campaign so far. The likes of Nazmul and Shahidul have done well to back their performances as well and should do well in order to restrict the Victorians on Monday. Shafiul Islam's fitness is a concern for them although Abedin Afridi could ideally replace him as he did on Saturday.
Expected Playing XI:
Chris Gayle, Ravi Bopara, AB de Villiers, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Mithun (WK), Nahidul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Farhad Reza, Nazmul Islam, Shahidul Islam and Abedin Afridi.
Comilla Victorians
Batting:
Evin Lewis should return to the starting eleven if he is deemed fit enough to do so. While Tamim, Imrul and Shamsur Rahman have played their parts to perfection, Anamul Haque has been a liability in the side with the wicket-keeper not able to get going in any of his innings in the tournament so far.
With limited resources available, Anamul should continue at number three. Shahid Afridi and Thisara Perera provide the impetus towards the end of the innings, making it a very lengthy batting line-up to overcome as well.
Bowling:
Mohammad Saifuddin and Shahid Afridi should return to the side with both of them being the top wicket-takers for Comilla with 17 and 16 wickets respectively. Adding to their performances, Wahab Riaz has also shone with accurate bowling in the death.
With several options available to them with the ball, a well-balanced Comilla unit should be able to trouble the mighty four of Rangpur and possibly storm into the final on Monday.
Expected Playing XI:
Tamim Iqbal, Evin Lewis, Anamul Haque (WK), Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes (C), Thisara Perera, Shahid Afridi, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Wahab Riaz and Mahedi Hasan Rana.