Dhaka Capitals secured their first win of the tournament in emphatic fashion, defeating Durbar Rajshahi by a record margin of 149 runs on Sunday (Jan 12) at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The victory not only ended Dhaka's six-match losing streak but also set the record for the largest winning margin in BPL history, surpassing the previous record of 119 runs. Opting to bat first, Dhaka's opening duo of Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan Tamim put on a dazzling display, propelling their team to a monumental 254 for 1 – the highest total in BPL history, eclipsing the previous record of 239. The pair added a staggering 241 runs for the first wicket, the highest partnership in the tournament's history for any wicket, breaking the previous best of 201 runs by Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum in 2017. Litton, who missed out on a spot in the Champions Trophy squad earlier in the day, responded with the bat like a man on a mission. He hammered his maiden T20 century, finishing unbeaten on 125 from 55 balls, laced with 10 fours and 9 sixes. Litton reached his century off just 44 balls, and his innings now ranks as the fourth-highest individual score in BPL history. He opened the innings and ended it with a six, showcasing his dominance throughout.
Just hours after getting excluded from Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad, Litton Kumer Das put on a batting masterclass at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (Jan 12), scoring an unbeaten career-best 125 off 55 balls. He was supported by Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who also bagged 108 runs off 64 balls, which is his second ton in T20 cricket.
The pair's twin centuries propelled Dhaka Capitals to an incredible total of 254-1, setting a new all-time BPL record, overcoming Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders 239 runs.
Dhaka set a new record for the highest team total in BPL history, scoring 254-1. The previous record was 239-4 by Rangpur in 2019.
Litton was the aggressor scoring his runs almost at 200, reaching his maiden BPL century in style, scoring 100 off just 44 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes. This milestone made him the second-fastest Bangladeshi centurion in BPL history, behind Parvez Hossain Emon, who scored a century off 42 balls in the 2020 BPL.
Litton is the first Bangladeshi centurion in the current BPL season and the fourth overall, joining Usman Khan of Chattogram Kings, Thisara Perera of Dhaka, and Alex Hales of Rangpur Riders.
The record for the fastest century in BPL history is held by Ahmed Shehzad, who achieved it in just 40 balls in 2012. Chris Gayle followed with a century off 44 balls, a list that now includes Litton.
Dhaka's other opener, Tanzid, also scored a century, completing it in 62 balls with 5 fours and 7 sixes. Tamim was eventually dismissed for 108 off 64 balls, but not before the duo set the highest-ever partnership in BPL history – 214 runs for any wicket.
Previously, the record for the highest partnership was held by Rangpur's Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle, who added 201 runs for the second wicket in 2017.
Litton and Tanzid have now surpassed that record with their opening stand. This match also marked the second instance of two centuries in a single BPL innings, and the first time it was achieved by Bangladeshi batters.
Rajshahi had elected to bowl in the game and it seemed like a sound decision when Dhaka got to 22 for 0 after four overs. But then Tanzid took 21 off a Sunzamul Islam over, and Dhaka never looked back. By the end of this over, the fifth, Litton was 10 off 9, but he got going in the next, the last of the Powerplay, hitting SM Meherob for 4, 6, 4 off consecutive deliveries.
Litton brought up his fifty in the ninth over, with a six off a no-ball. By the end of ten overs Dhaka were 115 for 0 and they just kept going. Tanzid also brought up his fifty with a six, off Ryan Burl to end the 11th. Litton continued the pair's pattern of bringing up their landmarks with a boundary, getting to his hundred in the 16th with a four off Shafiul Islam.Tanzid completed the set in the final over, taking four first ball to bring up his hundred, before hitting Shafiul for six more and then holing out for 108 off 64 balls (six fours, eight sixes, strike rate 168.75).
By then Dhaka already had the record for highest total in the BPL, and the wicket hardly slowed them down with Sabbir Rahman and Litton hitting one more six apiece to close out the innings on a dazzling 254 for 1.
In response, Rajshahi quickly wilted, falling to 34 for 5 before an unbeaten 47 from Ryan Burl held off the inevitable. Eventually, they were bowled out for 105 in the 16th over, falling short of their target by 150 runs.
