Time for the final push

Momentum will be the key word for the teams with the fifth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League fast approaching its climax as the tournament resumes today after two days' break after the end of the Chittagong leg.

There will be a minute's silence observed before the first match in memory of the late Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Annisul Huq, who breathed his last in London on Thursday evening.

Table-toppers Comilla Victorians certainly have the momentum with two wins from three games in the Chittagong leg. With an overall seven wins from nine matches so far, Comilla have already sealed a place in the playoffs with captain Tamim Iqbal leading from the front. They will face Rangpur Riders in the first match, which will start at 1:00 pm

Rajshahi Kings will take on Dhaka Dynamites in the second game beginning at 6:00 pm, but the Kings will be hampered by the absence of captain Darren Sammy as he returned to the West Indies because of personal reasons on Thursday. It is not yet known whether he will be back in time for their next match on December 5.

In the afternoon match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, the Victorians will be up against a spirited Rangpur Riders led by the talismanic Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who has lifted the morale of the side with his individual heroics both with bat and ball and inspired a turnaround after a disappointing start.  With five wins from nine games, two coming in the Chittagong phase, it will be a crucial encounter for the Riders in their hopes of securing a play-off spot.

Victorians coach Mohammad Salahuddin is however averse to experimentation and wants to replicate their 14-run win over the Riders in the first Dhaka leg.

"Although we have confirmed a semifinal spot I think every game is vital as you can lose the momentum any time. So the upcoming games are as important as the previous matches for us. Our local players are performing well both with bat and ball, which released the pressure from our foreigners," Salahuddin said  yesterday.

Defending champions Dhaka Dynamites will take on Rajshahi Kings in the evening match, which will be crucial for both sides as Rajshahi kept their playoff chances alive by winning two of their three matches in Chittagong, bringing their total to four wins from 10 matches.

It will be a different scenario for the Dynamites -- although they boast a commanding 68-run win over Rajshahi in their first meeting, Shakib Al Hasan's star-studded side will certainly feel the pressure this time around.

After dominating the first Dhaka phase, the Dynamites slipped to third position with five wins from 10 games and despite having all the big names in their ranks, they are yet to gel as a unit.

"Despite having all the superstars in the side, I think momentum is very important. Every team is balanced but you have to fire at the right time. I think the team we have, if we can give our 80 per cent, we can beat any side," said Dhaka head coach Khaled Mahmud yesterday.