BPL 2019, Match 34: Dhaka Dynamites vs Rangpur Riders - Preview and Predicted Playing XI

The second match of the doubleheader on Monday sees a rampant Rangpur Riders side take on an equally impressive Dhaka Dynamites in a showdown clash in the BPL 2019 season at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

After twin hundreds from Alex Hales and Rilee Russouw saw the Riders post the highest score in BPL history that saw them cruise towards a win, Dhaka Dynamites would wary of their fearsome top four although they have in their vicinity a couple of world-class all-rounders.

With some of the world's best T-20 players pitted against each other, we have another potential thriller on our way.

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Dhaka Dynamites

Batting:

Shakib Al Hasan and Rony Talukdar have the led way for the Dynamites after Zazai early burst of form has faded away. Shakib has 189 runs to his name and has been the cornerstone of this batting unit.

Cameos from makeshift openers, Sunil Narine, Talukdar and Russell have constantly propelled the Dynamites to an above par score leaving a good margin for error for their bowlers.

But if they are to come close to competing with the top four of Rangpur, they will be requiring more than just cameos from their top order. Nurul Hasan is a very talented batsman whose abilities are wasted down at number seven and should open the batting enabling Dhaka to utilize the overseas spot vacated by Zazai in a better manner.

Bowling:

Shakib again has been at the forefront of their bowling with seventeen wickets to his name. He is second on the wicket-takers charts with Rubel and Narine ably supporting him at crucial junctures.

Their death bowling has been a problem with Russell and Mohor Sheikh conceding a few in the last match. Andrew Birch is an out-and-out death bowler and he should be playing considering the might of the Rangpur batting line-up.

Expected Playing XI:

Nurul Hasan(WK), Sunil Narine, Rony Talukdar, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Shuvagata Hom, Naim, Andrew Birch, Rubel Hossain and Mohor Sheikh.

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Rangpur Riders

Batting:

It wasn't a Gayle Storm nor was it an AB special! Chittagong were blown away by two special talents in Alex Hales and Rilee Russouw, who became only the third pair to score centuries in the same innings after Hamish Marshall/Kevin O'Brien(Middlesex 2011) and Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers himself (RCB 2016).

The defending champions are firing at all cylinders and after a mammoth 239/4 being posted in their previous match, what can anybody possible ask more of them?

Their ploy of utilizing right-left combo throughout has been quite effective with Russouw and AB swapping places according to the fall of the first wicket replacing Gayle and Hales respectively. They have to keep up the level of performances though against a better bowling unit in Dhaka Dynamites.

Bowling:

Although they aren't the most fearsome on paper, they have certainly been the most effective of all franchises. Mashrafe Mortaza, Shafiul Islam and Farhad Reza have done exceedingly well with the trio sharing 41 wickets amongst them.

Mortaza has been particularly impressive up front while Reza and Shafiul have done the damage in the back end, ensuring that the Riders have got all bases covered. Dhaka Dynamites will have to do incredibly well to get past this well-oiled unit that Riders seems to possess.

Expected Playing XI:

Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Rilee Russouw, AB de Villiers, Mohammed Mithun(WK), Nahidul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza(C), Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Shahidul Islam and Nazmul Islam.