Imads Spin Strangles Rajshahi as Dhaka Win by Five Wickets

Dhaka Capitals made a winning start to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 12th edition by defeating Rajshahi Warriors by five wickets in the third match of the tournament at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. A disciplined bowling performance from Imad Wasim, followed by a composed chase, guided Dhaka to victory.
After winning the toss, Dhaka Capitals opted to bowl first and struck immediately. Rajshahi Warriors suffered an early setback as Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball of the innings. Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto attempted to steady the innings, but Rajshahi kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Shanto was the top scorer with 37 runs, while Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 24. Mohammad Nawaz added a useful 26 towards the end, but Rajshahi could manage only 132 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. For Dhaka, Imad Wasim was outstanding, picking up three wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs.
Chasing a modest target of 133, Dhaka Capitals also faced early pressure as opener Saif Hassan departed cheaply. Abdullah Al Mamun then anchored the innings with a responsible knock of 45 off 39 balls. He was supported by Usman Khan, who scored 18, and captain Mohammad Mithun, who added 12.
Although Dhaka failed to build any major partnerships towards the end, they kept the required run rate under control and reached the target in 18.5 overs, losing five wickets in the process.
For Rajshahi, Mohammad Nawaz was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 21 runs in four overs, but his effort was not enough to prevent defeat.
For his match-winning spell with the ball, Dhaka Capitals all-rounder Imad Wasim was named Player of the Match.