Shamim's 81 in vain as Omarzai helps Sylhet topple Dhaka

Shamim Hossain played a lone hand during a career-best T20 knock but needing 7 off the last delivery, the left-hander did not manage the big hit to take the game to Super Over as Sylhet Titans endured to seize a six-run win in a tight finish against Dhaka Capitals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Sylhet's new foreign recruit Azmatullah Omarzai made an immediate impact less than a day after reaching Bangladesh, putting on an all-round performance. Sylhet's start was not too great as Saim Ayub's 29 off 34 had allowed Dhaka bowlers to control proceedings early, while skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, coming in at number three managed just 6 before Taskin Ahmed got the better of him with a short delivery.

Parvez Hossain Emon once again left an impact at number four, hitting a 32-ball 44. Once Emon perished to Saif Hassan, Sylhet found themselves in a bit of bother, reaching 93 for four in 14 overs.

Omarzai wrested control back, hitting Taskin for three fours to get momentum back into Sylhet innings. Omarzai's 24-ball fifty, laced with five fours and three sixes, saw Sylhet score 74 in the last five overs to reach 173 for five.

In reply, Omarzai's early strikes, removing Saif Hassan for 9 and Dhaka skipper Mohammad Mithun for naught, left Dhaka in trouble. Mohammad Amir was also among the wickets while Nasum Ahmed accounted for opener Usman Khan after a 15-ball 21. Being a number six, Shamim had to go out to bat in the seventh over as Dhaka slumped to five for 43. Shamim picked up odd boundaries off Miraz and Ayub to keep the score ticking from one end.

As wickets fell from the other end with neither Sabbir Rahman (23 off 19), Imad Wasim (8) and Mohammad Saifuddin (0) not making any telling impact, Dhaka found themselves at 118 for 8. Shamim started going after the bowling with Dhaka needing 56 in the last three overs.

He picked up 11 off Khaled Ahmed's over before latching onto Omarzai, hitting a six and two fours in the 19th over to pick up 18 runs. Shamim dispatched Mohammad Amir for three fours and a six in the final over but was just a hit away from taking the game to a Super Over finish as Shamim failed to get Amir away in the final delivery of the innings. Shamim ended on a 43-ball 81 Dhaka finished on 167 for 8. Sylhet picked up their second win in the tournament. Omarzai finished with three for 40 while Amir and Nasum bagged two each.