Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz made an impressive start to his Caribbean Premier League career, taking three wickets on his debut for Guyana Amazon Warriors in a convincing four-wicket victory over St Lucia Kings.
Miraz produced a disciplined spell with the ball, conceding only 13 runs from his four overs. He also delivered 13 dot balls, keeping the opposition batters under sustained pressure and playing a significant role in Guyana’s bowling effort.
His first CPL appearance could hardly have begun better. Miraz struck in his opening over when John Campbell advanced down the pitch and attempted to clear the infield against the off-spinner. The shot did not carry far enough, and Campbell was caught at long-on.
Miraz returned to the attack in his third over and removed Kemol Savory before dismissing Charith Asalanka with the next delivery. Although he could not add another wicket during the remainder of his spell, his economy and control helped restrict St Lucia’s scoring.
The outstanding bowling performance of the match, however, came from Guyana veteran Imran Tahir. The 47-year-old leg-spinner claimed five wickets for just 17 runs, registering the best T20 bowling figures of his career. It was also Tahir’s sixth five-wicket haul in the shortest format.
Tahir’s latest achievement placed him second on the list of bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in T20 cricket, according to the figures provided in the report. David Wiese leads that list with seven such performances.
Guyana’s chase was not entirely straightforward despite their bowlers putting the side in a strong position. Glenn Phillips provided an important contribution at the top of the order with 37, but the innings required a late acceleration to reach the target comfortably.
That came from Quinton Sampson, who produced a remarkable late assault. He smashed 37 from only 11 deliveries, including one four and five sixes, to take the pressure off the Guyana batting line-up and move his side decisively towards victory.
Guyana eventually reached the target with four wickets in hand. The result was their seventh victory in eight matches, taking their tally to 14 points and allowing them to retain top spot in the CPL standings.
Miraz had less success with the bat. Coming in at No. 5, he scored just one run from four deliveries before attempting a sweep against spinner Chase. The ball found Charith Asalanka at square leg, ending his brief stay at the crease.
For Miraz, the match nevertheless represented a significant opportunity in the CPL. This is his second stint as a contracted player in the tournament. He was previously included in the Trinbago Knight Riders squad but did not feature in a match.
This time, he was brought into Guyana’s squad as a replacement for Mohammad Nabi. His three-wicket debut immediately gave the Bangladesh all-rounder a strong platform as he seeks to establish himself in the competition.
Miraz’s next CPL fixture is scheduled for 11 September against Trinbago Knight Riders, the side whose squad he previously represented without making an appearance. The match will give him an opportunity to build on an encouraging debut and make another contribution with both bat and ball.
