Rajshahi Kings, scrapping the bottom of the table leading into the game, revived their campaign and jumped to fifth with a seven wicket win over Sylhet Sixers in Mirpur. On what was a sluggish surface, thanks largely to the rain around, they found a new batting star in Zakir Hasan, who stroked an unbeaten half-century on BPL debut to convert a potentially tricky chase into a cruise. Mominul Haque set up the chase by making a sparkling 20-ball 25, while Mehidy Hasan starred with the ball, earlier in the day, to finish with figures of 4-0-12-1 in what was a disciplined bowling effort for large parts.

Daren Sammy: We would've taken anything under 150. The debutant Zakir just came back and batted brilliantly. They scored 60 odd in the last five overs. That's something we've to get better at. There's room for improvement, yes, we could've finished better in the first half. It's about taking responsibility. Like I said, it's good to see a debutant play fearless cricket. That's what I encourage the guys to do. Lot more games to play, we have to continue to improve in all departments.

Zakir Hasan wins the Player of the Match award on BPL debut

Mominul Haque: Wicket was tricky. It was turning, so we wanted to rotate strike and put the bad balls away. I don't think about me being called just a Test player. I want to improve with every innings.

Zakir Hasan was reprieved on 16 courtesy a no-ball, and boy has he responded superbly or what? The next two deliveries were belted for six, and those were the trigger he needed to launch himself into BPL 2017-18 in style. Rajshahi Kings have also elevated their net run rate in the process. On a sluggish wicket, he made batting look so easy that a potentially tricky target turned into a cruise.

So, after three wins in a row, Sylhet Sixers have now been brought back to earth with two successive losses. Quite a few things for the team management to ponder over.