Chittagong Royals Defy Management Chaos to Crush Noakhali Express
Chittagong Royals defied off-field turmoil and management chaos to secure a dominant 65-run victory over Noakhali Express in their BPL opener.
Sylhet, Dec 26 – In a stunning display of resilience, the Chittagong Royals overcame severe off-field turmoil to secure a dominant 65-run victory over the Noakhali Express in their BPL opener on Friday.
The win comes just 24 hours after the franchise’s ownership collapsed, forcing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take over management. Despite a hasty restructuring and a squad featuring only two foreign players, Chittagong showed no signs of instability on the field.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Royals posted a competitive 174 for 6. Opener Mirza Tahir Beg anchored the innings, playing a pivotal role with 80 runs off 69 balls, studded with seven fours and two sixes. Captain Mehidy Hasan provided a late surge, smashing 26 off just 13 deliveries.
Chittagong’s bowlers then dismantled the Noakhali lineup. Captain Mehidy led from the front, taking 2 wickets for just 17 runs in his 4 overs. Noakhali never found their rhythm, collapsing for 109 all out in 16.5 overs. While Maz Sadakat offered some resistance with 38, key batter Jaker Ali failed to fire, scoring only 6.
The victory transforms a week of uncertainty into a dream start for the new-look Royals.