Defending champions Dhaka Dynamites routed Rajshahi Kings by 99 runs in the 36th match of the 5th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 to register their 6th win in the league at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Dhaka Dynamites posted a score of 205 for 5 in 20 overs spurred with the tournament’s highest partnership in any stand, till date, of 129 in 13.1 overs between Sunil Narine and Joe Denly in the opening wicket pair and restricted the defending runners-up Rajshahi Kings on 106 for all in 18.3 overs, reports the UNB.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled out Narine to dismiss the highest opening wicket stand of the league.

The previous highest partnership in this league was 125 off 15.3 overs also came in the opening stand between Upul Tharanga and Andre Fletcher for Sylhet Sixers nine-wicket victory against Dhaka Dynamites in the opening match of the seven-team tournament at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on November 4.

Man of the match Narine was out for a half century of 69 off 34 balls, including four boundaries and six over boundaries, while  opener Joe Denly stayed for another half century of 53 off 54 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, before being caught and bowled by Qazi Onik on 154/3 in 16.2 overs.

Kieron Pollard (33 off 14b; 1x4; 4x6), Shahid Afridi (14 off 7b; 3x4) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan (13* off 6b; 1x4; 1x6) were the other double digit scorers for the winners.

Qazi Onik bagged two wickets for 52 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Sami and Samit Patel took one wicket each for 20, 24 and 29 runs respectively.

For Rajshahi, Samit Patel (28 off 17b; 2x4; 2x6), Mominul Haque (19 off 21b; 1x4; 1x6), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (16 off 16b; 1x6) and Usama Mir (10 off 6b; 1x4; 1x6) were the double digit scorers.

Shakib got four wickets for eight runs while Shadman Islamand and Mosaddek Hossain bagged two wickets each for nine and three runs respectively. Kieron Pollard and Shahid Afridi took one wicket apiece to handle the bowling department.

With this result, Dhaka Dynamites collected 13 points from 11 games to move up to the 2nd slot from the 3rd, having six wins and four losses and one no result, and confirmed  their last four berth after table topper Comilla Victorians.

Rajshahi Kings made the early exit from the race of last-four as they secured eight points from 11 matches with four wins and seven losses to place 5th.