Tahir joins elite club with 500 T20 wickets as Rangpur Riders dominate Khulna Tigers

Spinner Imran Tahir carved his name in cricketing history by becoming just the fourth player to achieve the remarkable milestone of 500 wickets in the T20 format. He now joins the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Rashid Khan, and Sunil Narine as the only players in the elite 500-wicket club.

The South African maestro accomplished this feat during an electrifying clash between Rangpur Riders and Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a match which his side won. 

The former South African international’s stellar performance played a pivotal role in Rangpur’s commanding victory, as he bowled one of the finest of his career to secure impressive figures of 5/26 in his four-over spell. His effort on Tuesday not only secured Rangpur’s emphatic 78-run victory but also reaffirmed their position at the top of the BPL table with 14 points from nine games. In contrast, Khulna Tigers find themselves in fifth place with eight points. 

Rangpur’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with skipper Nurul Hasan’s tactical acumen shining through as he elected to bat first after winning the toss. Despite early setbacks, courtesy of Luke Wood’s dismissals, the team rallied behind Shakib Al Hasan’s explosive knock of 69, ably supported by Mahedi Hasan’s resilient batting performance.

The duo’s formidable partnership of 109 runs propelled Rangpur to an imposing total of 220/5, setting the stage for a daunting chase for Khulna Tigers. However, Tahir’s mesmerizing spin dismantled Khulna’s batting lineup, as he claimed the scalps of key batters, including the dangerous Alex Hales, to restrict the opposition to a mere 141 runs.

At age 44, Tahir has achieved something every cricketer dreams of but only a select few ever get to achieve. What is more impressive is that he joined the Riders only two days ago, and he is already proving to be one of their best signings of all time. With his performance on Tuesday, there is already a lot to look forward to from Tahir, not just on a club level but also on personal records. 

Leon Osamor