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Usman Khan smashed the first century of this edition’s Bangladesh Premier League as Chittagong Kings thrashed Durbar Rajshahi by 105 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday. 

Usman, who has so far played 18 T20I matches for Pakistan, scored 123 off 62 balls to set up 219-5 in the allotted overs, the highest of this season. 

Rajshahi then stumbled to 114 in 17.1 overs to hand a 105-run win to Chittagong, the joint second biggest in terms of runs in BPL.

Chittagong, who were put into bat first, got things going in a partnership of 120 runs off 63 balls between Usman and Graham Clark (40 off 25).

Captain Mohammad Mithun then accompanied Usman in their 31-ball partnership of 63 runs before Haider Ali’s cameo of 19 off eight balls lifted Chittagong to post the highest total of the season. 

He reached his second BPL and fifth hundred of his T20 career in 48 balls, hitting 13 fours and six sixes in his innings. Luckily, he survived two catch dismissals on 81 and 95.

Usman disclosed that they were watchful against Taskin Ahmed, who took a seven-for in the previous match. He gave away just 22 runs in four overs while taking two wickets in the game. 

‘The partnerships were good. Taskin is a good bowler, so we have to see him off. He bowled the first two overs well. And when the balls started to come to the bat nicely, I’d planned to play long,’ said Usman during the presentation ceremony. 

In pursuit of the massive target, Rajshahi failed to produce any significant innings from their top order or establish substantial partnerships. 

Spin duo of Arafat Sunny and Aliss Al Islam each claimed three wickets, while pacers Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Wasim shared four wickets.

Left-arm spinner Sunny said that Usman and other batters made their game easy. 

‘In T20 cricket, you’ll get a chunk of runs from one or two partnerships. Our main work was done by the batters from the top of the order—Usman, Clark, and then Mithun,’ Sunny said after the match.

Rajshahi, on the other hand, faltered in every department. The bowling should be on top of the pile, as they now have conceded two 195-plus scores in three matches. 

However, Durbar Rajshahi’s Zimbabwe all-rounder Ryan Burl stated it’s not a cause of concern as it’s too early, and the bowlers will find their rhythm in the upcoming matches.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s concerning. If you look at some of the performances our bowlers have put in. Taskin has come right in three games. I think we’ve bowled well in patches, but we haven’t bowled well throughout,’ said the Zimbabwean.

‘We’ve only played three matches. I think it’s just about the bowlers finding their rhythm. It’s early in the tournament; we’ll be looking to improve,’ added Burl. 

Burl also pointed out that the dropped chances cost them dearly. 

‘Massive, massive (costly dropped catches). We dropped a few catches, and we let through a few boundaries, and that’s gonna hurt you at any phase of the game.’