Dhaka: Dhaka Dynamites clinched the title of the 4th Bangladesh Premier League T20, outplaying Rajshahi Kings by 56 runs in the grand final at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.

With this title, a capital city franchise has bagged the BPL title for the 3rd time, bagging the title in 2012 and 2013 under a previous franchise (Dhaka Gladiators). Rajshahi finished 2nd in this year’s seven-team tournament.

Third-place Khulna Titans’ skipper Mahmudullah Riyad was adjudged Player of the series for an all-round performance that saw him score 396 runs and capture 10 wickets in the tournament. 

Chasing a target of 160, Rajshahi finished their innings skittled out for just 103 in 17.4 overs, including the 2nd pair stand of 47 in 7.1 overs between Mominul Haque and Sabbir Rahman.

Starting from 15/1 in 2.4 overs, the 2nd pair finished its journey at 62/2 in 9.5 overs as Sabbir fell victim to a run out that acted as the turning point. The only centurion in this edition’s BPL, Sabbir scored 26 off 22 balls, including two boundaries.

Mominul stayed for 27 off 30 balls, including three boundaries, before trapped lbw by all-round skipper Shakib Al Hasan, at 66/3 in in 10.3 overs.

Samit Patel was another double figure scorer for the side with 17 runs while Kesrick Williams (4) was retired hurt leaving team total at 102/8 in 16.5 overs. 

Abu Jayed, Sunzamul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan captured two wickets each for 12, 17 and 30 runs in 4, 3 and 4 overs respectively. Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo took one wicket each for 20 and 21 runs in 4 and 3.4 overs respectively. 

Earlier Dhaka collected 159/9 in 20 overs, including the only notable scorer Evin Lewis's 45 off 31 balls that witnessed eight boundaries. Lewis was caught by Kesrick Williams off Farhad Reza's bowling, leaving the team total at 83/4 in 10.2 overs. 

Man of the final Kumar Sangakkara scored 36 off 33 balls that witnessed two boundaries and one six. Dwayne Bravo (13), Sunzamul Islam (not out 12) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan (12) were the other double figure scorer in the final that saw a full house inside the venue and many supporters crowding outside. 

Sent in to bat first, Dhaka faced first jolt losing their opener Mehedi Maruf (8), was caught by Kesrick Williams off Mehedi Hasan Miraz bowling, leaving team total at 23 for 1 in 3.2 overs.

Afif Hossain hunted the 2nd one, all-rounder and a key batter Nasir Hossain (5), was caught by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, when the team collection was at 35/2 in 5 overs.

Dhaka's new batting talent Mosaddek Hossain (5) was the 3rd wicket that bowled out by skipper Darren Sammy at 42/3 in 6.1 overs. 

Farhad Reza claimed three wickets for 28 runs in four overs while Samit Patel, skipper Darren Sammy, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain and Kesrick Williams took one wicket each for the side.

Dhaka had entered the four-team play-off stage as the table-toppers, while Rajshahi fought their way having placed 4th in the table of the league phase, but outplaying Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans in the play-off stage to storm into the final. 

In their two meetings in the double-round robin phase of this year's BPL, Rajshahi had done the double over Dhaka, and under Sammy looked se4t to mount an almighty challenge against their illustrious opponents, led with aplomb by the irrepressible Shakib Al Hasan. 

On Friday though, as Shakib exchanged his young daughter, perched in his arms at the presentation ceremony, for the BPL trophy as the celebrations started, Rajshahi had clearly run out of steam.