Dhaka Dynamites defeat Rajshahi Kings to clinch BPL 2016 title

That is it from me. Good night everyone. 

Dhaka Dynamites have deservedly won the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016. Not only have they outplayed Rajshahi Kings in the final, they were the most consistent team in BPL 2016. They finished the group stages as the best team, and justified their favourite tags by winning the title as well. 

9:11: Russell dismisses Nazmul, and that is all over for the Rajshahi Kings, who were outplayed by Dhaka Dynamites in the final. DD have clinched the BPL 2016 title, defeating RK by 56 runs.  

9:07: Williams at the crease. One West Indian bowling to another. Bravo to Williams, who hits it straight back to the bowler. Bravo, seeing Williams out of the crease, throws at the wickets, and strikes the batsman in the elbow. He is floored by that throw, and injures his elbow, so Williams cannot bat any further, he retires. Nazmul replaces him. RK 102/8, 17 overs (Afif 4, Nazmul 0). RK require 57 runs from 18 balls

8: 59: Bravo to bowl. The DD players have their tails up. They have smiles on their faces, and it just gets bigger as Reza is clean bowled by Bravo. RK 98/8

8:57:The DD seems to have the game in their bag, but the RK players are not yet giving up. They are trying to play the big shots, to no avail. Farhad strikes it clean, straight to the fielder. RK 97/7, 16 overs (Afif 3, Reza 2). RK require 63 runs from 24 balls

8:52: Mehedi is gone as he hands an easy catch to Sunzamul in the fine leg region. RK 93/7

8:51: The task is almost impossible for the Kings lower order to script a stunning win. They require another 67 runs from 30 balls. RK  93/6, 15 overs (Afif 2, Mehedi 1)

8:49: Good runnings from the new pair as they complete three runs. Patel fails to connect the ball while going for a maximum, and Russell takes a magical diving catch to help DD inch closer to the title. RK 91/6

8:46: Shakib bowls a dot ball to finish the 14th over. RK 87/5, 14 overs (Patel 14, Afif 0)

8:45: Patel comes down the track, and hits an inside out shot to score four runs, and plays the same shot once again, but only a single. That is a straight hit for six from Sammy, who is bowled in the next ball. Quicker one from Shakib, and the Bangladesh star has inched his team closer to the title. RK 87/5

8:40: Sammy needs to help Kings cross the finishing line. RK 76/4, 13 overs (Patel 9, Sammy 0)

8:39: The required run rate has crossed 11 runs per over mark. Sunzamul is taken for a single in the first ball.  Franklin should target the left-arm slow bolwer, who only concedes a single again. This is quality bowling. Alas for Kings' fans! Franklin is gone. He had timed the ball beautifully, but it was hit straight down to Bravo, who took an easy catch. RK 76/4.

8:32: The fielder in the deep loses the ball. He did not see the ball- is his defence. It was a catching opportunity. Three straight singles, but will this work? The pressure is building on the RK batsmen now. Franklin takes a couple from the final ball.  RK 73/3, 12 overs (Patel 7, Franklin 4)

8:28: Oh my dear. What is going on, as Franklin survives a run out. Bad communication from the new batting pair. RK 68/3, 11 overs (Patel 5, Franklin 1)

8:26: Half shot from Patel, who just lobs the fielder at cover. That was lucky. Shakib dismisses Mominul, who misses the ball while playing a sweep shot. He is out LBW. RK 66-3.

8:23: Samit Patel gets off the mark with a single. RK 63/2, 10 overs (Mominul 21, Patel 1)

8:17: RK are scoring runs in singles. They might have to change gears. Three singles from the first three balls. Sabbir is run out. This was on the cards as the two were not confident in their running between the wickets. This is huge loss for RK, and it is strategic time out. RK 62/2.

8:13: Bravo to start the ninth over, concedes a leg bye and follows that with a wide. Sabbir clips the ball on the leg side for a single. He seems to have settled down. There is some mix up in the middle, but they complete a single. RK 59/1, 9 overs (Mominul 26, Sabbir 24)

8:08: Sunzamul to Sabbir, who comes down the track and defends the ball. He comes down the track again, but takes a single. The left-arm bowler is bowling well.Two runs from five balls, and Sabbir plays a uppish cut shot, just goes over the fielder for two runs in the final ball.  RK 52/1, 8 overs (Mominul 24, Sabbir 21)

8:04: Bravo bowls it wide outside the off stump, and Mominul slashes hard, and hits it straight to point. But, the left-hander does not make any mistake in the next ball, which he hits it for a quality boundary. RK 48/1, 7 overs (Mominul 23, Sabbir 18)

8pm: Quick running between the wickets. The pair completes a single. Sabbir pierces the gap in the off-side for a delightful boundary. On the other hand, Mominul is just giving the strike to Sabbir. The left-hander looks calm at the middle. RK 40/1, 6 overs (Mominul 18, Sabbir 15)

7:55: Sabbir goes for cheeky shot, which nearly cost him his wicket. The ball hits the toe end of his bat, and he completes a couple. RK will hope Sabbir is there till the end. Mominul has been good, rotating the strike well. Russell bowls to Sabbir on his hips, and he glides the ball on the leg side for a four. That was more like the Sabbir we know. RK 31/1, 5 overs (Mominul 15, Sabbir 9 )

7:51: Momimul hits an important boundary as the left-hander sweeps Shakib for a boundary. Sabbir hits a wonderful shot, but that is straight to the fielder. RK 22/1, 4 overs (Mominul 13, Sabbir 2)

7:48: Sabbir Rahman at the crease. RK need him to score big runs. RK 16/1, 3 overs (Mominul 9, Sabbir 1)

7:46: Good bowling from Abu, who has not given any easy ball to score. Three balls, three singles. Nurul comes down the track, and mishits the ball, easy catch to Russell. RK 15/1

7:42: Andre Russell to Mominul, starts with two dot balls. The left-hander gets off the mark with a couple in the leg side. He edges the ball in between the wicket-keeper and first slip for a four. RK 11/0, 2 overs (Nurul 4, Mominul 7)

7:38: Abu Jayed with the new ball. Nurul Hasan starts brilliantly, boundary in the first ball of the second innings. He comes down the track and slashes hard, but does not connect well. Five dots on a trot after that boundary. RK 4/0, 1 over (Nurul 4, Mominul 0)

7:32: Both teams are out there in the middle for the second innings. Can RK score at eight runs per over to win the title? 

RK need 160 runs to win, see you in a while. Take a break.

7:16: Final ball of the innings and Sunzamul somehow finds the boundary ropes. 15 runs from the final over. DD 159/9, 20 overs. 

7:15: Sunzamul takes the ball on the full and plays a wristy shot for a boundary, follows that with a couple. Another full toss and Sunzamul takes a single. What can Sangakkara do? Another cheeky shot, just goes over the fine leg fielder for four runs. These runs are huge from the Lankan. Sangakkara top edges the ball, caught abd bowled by Reza. He goes for a well-made 26 runs. DD 155/9.

7:10: Sangakkara runs on the overthrow, two runs, but that was a risky single run taken initially. Cheeky from Sanga, who scoops Williams for a six. That was needed by DD. DD 144/8 18 overs (Sangakkara 32, Sunzamul 1)

7:07: Williams with the penultimate over. Foolish from Alauddin, who skies the ball straight to Sammy for a simple catch. DD 133/8

7:03: Alauddin walks onto bat. Reza, after that wicket, will need to rotate the strike, he does so, and Sangakkara keeps the strike for the next over with a single next. DD 132/7, 18 overs (Sangakkara 22, Alauddin 1)

6:59: Two balls and two runs. Players are not finding it easy to middle the ball. WOW. What a shot from Shakib, upper cuts the ball to third man for a much-needed four. Reza comes back with a bang, bowls it full, and dismisses Shakib, whose wickets are disturbed. DD 130/7

6:55: Bouncer from Williams to Shakib and the ball goes for a boundary, had originally hit the helmet. The skipper takes single next. Sangakkara needs to step it up. He has already spent some time at the crease. DD 124/6, 17 overs (Sangakkara 20, Shakib 7)

6:51: Sangakkara survives a close LBW call. DD 115/6, 16 overs (Sangakkara 18, Shakib 0)

6:49: Five overs to go. What can we expect? Patel to Sangakkara, who goes towards the leg side for a single. Rusell looks for a big shot, but he does not connect it well, and is caught at long off. Good catch by Reza. DD 113/6

6:44: Nazmul is on the spot with his bowling to Russell. One run from his first three balls. Will Russell go for a big shot? He does, but Russell is lucky as Sabbir, in the deep, drops a catch. DD 110/5, 15 overs (Sangakkara 17, Russell 7)

6:40: Now, the DD will not want to lose any wicket in the next five overs. Nice over from Samit Patel, only five runs from his first over. That is tight bowling. DD 106/5, 14 overs (Sangakkara 16, Russell 3)

6:36: Three dot balls, and Mehedi finishes his quota of four overs. DD 101/5, 13 overs (Sangakkara 14, Russell 0)

6:34: Mehedi with his final over of BPL 2016. Sangakkara gives the strike to Bravo, who hits the first maximum of the match. That was huge from Bravo. There is some mix up between Sanga and Bravo and the latter is run out. DD 101/5

6:32: Bravo take a single with Nazmul bowling at him in his pads. There is turn for Nazmul, and Sangakkara takes another single. Inside out, how many times have we seen Bravo playing this shot, and the result is a boundary as always. DD 94/4, 12 overs (Sangakkara 13, Bravo 7)

6:27: Dwayne Bravo out there in the middle. This partnership between Bravo and Sangakkara is going to be huge for DD. One ball to go and Reza has only given two runs so far, and he finishes the eover conceding a single. DD 85/4, 11 overs (Sangakkara 11, Bravo 1)

6:21: Reza tucked away by Sangakkara for a single. Lewis, who was looking so good, somehow hits a ball wide in the leg side to the fine leg fielder. DD 83/4

6:14: Afif bowling to in-form Lewis, who takes a single, and Sangakkara takes a single in the next ball too. Too full from the spinner and Lewis drives it for a powerful four runs. Afif is hit in the same area, and this time he moves back and places the ball for second boundary of the over. Lewis now opens the face for third boundary. DD 82/3, 10 overs (Lewis 45, Sangakkara 10)

6:09: Sammy is hammered by his fellow countryman Lewis for a boundary. He plays the same pull shot, this time it is straight for back-to-back boundaries. Lewis pulls another, and this is brilliant, but hits it straight to the fielder, one run only. The Sri Lankan picks up Sammy's slower ball to glide it for a four. DD 68/3, 9 overs (Lewis 32, Sangakkara 9)

6:05: Good running from the two overseas players, as they complete a couple. And I thought Sangakkara had just retired. Mehedi is bowling a tight line and length, not giving much freebies.  DD 54/3, 8 overs (Lewis 23, Sangakkara 5)

6:01 pm: Now, Kings need Kumar Sangakkara to play a good hand, and bring all his experience to stabilise the innings. Lewis finishes the over with a Caribbean style pull-shot for four runs.  DD 50/3, 7 overs (Lewis 22, Sangakkara 2)

5:56: Captain Sammy strikes with his first ball, traps Mosaddek leg before. DD 42/3

5:54: Mosaddek Hossain walks onto bat at number four. Mehedi bowling a nice line and length. As I say that Hossain splits the gap wonderfully behind square to score four runs. DD 42/2, 6 overs (Lewis 17, Mosaddek 5)

5:49: Lewis hits the ball in the off-side for a boundary. He is looking good. Nasir is not looking too comfortable on the pitch, takes a couple with unconvincing sweep shot. Samit Patel drops a chance. Nasir is gone, stumped. DD 35/2, 5 overs (Lewis 16)

5:44: Nasir Hossain joins Lewis in the middle. The right-hander is lucky as he skies the ball, and once again the ball falls in no man's land. DD 26/1, 4 overs (Lewis 10, Nasir 2)

5:39: Mehedi Hasan Miraz with his spin inside the power play. Miraz gets the wicket of Maruf, who hands a simple catch to Williams. DD 23/1.

5:36: Lewis glances the ball for a couple. Williams seems to be up for the game, he is bowling well. Lewis hits an uppish square drive on the off-side for a four. DD 22/0, 3 overs (Maruf 8, Lewis 9)

5:32: Farhad Reza to start the second over. It has been a goo over so far. Two runs from first four balls. Maruf is living dangerously as he skies the ball in no man's land. DD 14/0, 2 overs (Maruf 7, Lewis 2)

5:27: Mehedi Maruf and Evin Lewis and to open the innings for Dhaka. Kesrick WIlliams to open the bowling for Rajshahi. Maruf slashes at the first ball, misses it completely. He glides the next ball to third man for a single. The ball hits Maruf's head and flies over the keeper's head for a four. It is all happening in the first over. Sammy drops a catch in first slip, was a tough chance, but goes for a boundary. DD 11/0, 1 over (Maruf 6, Lewis 1)

5:15: The umpires are out there in the middle. Darren Sammy leads Kings onto the field, followed by Dynamites' openers. 

5:13: The atmosphere seems to be electrifying as the stadium seems to be quite jam-packed, and why not, we are talking about the all-important final. Wait, there are some people outside the stadium, waiting to get. 

5:03: TOSS: Rajshahi Kings have won the toss, and they have opted to bowl first.

5pm: The Kings – how did they reach the final? It is their performances in the mid-stages of BPL 2016 and quality cricket in playoffs, which has got them through.

Their journey in BPL 2016 so far.

4:55: The Dynamites were the best team in BPL, losing only four matches, and they have justified their tag with some impressive consistency en route to the final. They come into this title-decider with a huge win over Khulna Titans.

For those interested in their BPL 2016 journey, here it is...

4:45: You know what! We might learn some great dance steps in the final due to the presence of several players (should be 5) from the West Indies. They know how to celebrate, and boy, they can shake their legs. I guess Bravo and his Dynamites' team mates must have already practiced their steps on 'Champion' song.

Just to get into the groove, here is that DJ Bravo's song. 

4:30 pm IST: The match should be a cracker with both teams having played some amazing cricket in the group stages and then the playoffs to reach the final. Dynamites are huge favourites while Kings are underdogs, but we all know that the T20 game can change in a matter of overs. 

The title is not only going to be about the performance --alone -- on the field, but also pressure, which comes with a final.

Dynamites and Kings need to be mentally strong on the field too. The question of character also comes into the picture in such title-deciders.

Hey folks, we have witnessed some interesting and close matches in the Bangladesh Premier League 2016, and the final in Mirpur on Friday should be of utmost quality as well. You are not going to miss any action if you stay here with International Business Times, India's live blog coverage of BPL 2016 final between Dhaka Dynamites and Rajshahi Kings. 

I am Ashim Sunam, promising to bring you all the highs and lows from the last match of the BPL 2016. One hopes that the final turns out to be EPIC.

Are you ready? We are around an hour away from the title clash. Tick tick, tick tick, tick tick..................the countdown has already begun.