Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan maintained his excellent work in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), backing his side to win the end game of the group phase before the play-off events.
After proceeding to open the bowling, Shakib claimed two crucial wickets for just 25 runs in four overs as his team Barbados Tridents secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Trinbago Knight Riders at Port of Spain on Wednesday.
Shakib carried the wicket of opener Jimmy Nisham in the first over and then came back with fire in his end spell to claim the prized scalp of Lendl Simmons who scored most important 60 for Trinbago.
Simmons’s dismissal in 15th over effectively ruined Trinbago’s any chance of making a hefty total as they were restricted to 134-8 in 20 overs.
In his 45 ball-60 that was studded by three fours and fours sixes, Simmons kept the run flowing and it looked Trinbago was on a course of the big total until Shakib Al Hasan rattled his stump with a straight delivery.
Shakib, however, didn’t fare well in batting as he was out for just 13. But Johnson Charles’s 47 ball-55 runs, including five fours and two sixes, helped the side cruise to the victory with 135-3 in 19.4 overs. Alex Hales was the other notable scorer with 33.
After his union with Barbados, Shakib played three matches and took six wickets, which all came in the crucial moment of the game. Even though he was not at his best in batting, apart from the second match in which he scored 25 ball-33 runs, his bowling kept Barbados on course.
Barbados lost one match in three in which Shakib was the part of the team. However the team had already confirmed their play-off berth.
