Mustafizur Strikes Triple Wicket Haul in Single Over

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman once again demonstrated his remarkable wicket-taking ability, this time on the international stage in Dubai, following his high-profile IPL auction selection. On Tuesday, the Kolkata Knight Riders secured Mustafizur for a staggering 9.2 crore INR at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi. Just a day later, the bowler turned the spotlight back onto himself with a match-winning performance for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 (ILT20).

In his fifth ILT20 outing, Mustafizur produced a sensational over in the closing stages of Dubai Capitals’ innings against MI Emirates. Bowling the 18th over, he dismissed three crucial wickets—Rashid Khan, Tom Banton, and A.M. Gaznfar—conceding just a single run. His figures over four overs read an impressive 3 wickets for 34 runs.

The Bangladeshi pacer’s day, however, had a rocky start. He was introduced into the attack in the second over of the innings and immediately conceded two boundaries to Johnny Bairstow, finishing that over for 10 runs. Returning in the 16th over, he bowled economically, giving away only six runs, including a wide, against K.M. Mendis and Banton.

It was in the 18th over that Mustafizur truly shone. The first delivery, an off-cutter, induced a catch at mid-off from Rashid Khan (3 balls, 1 run). The third ball, a well-disguised slower delivery, accounted for Banton, caught at mid-wicket (11 balls, 5 runs). On the fifth ball, an off-stump delivery sent Gaznfar to the slips, where Du Plessis held on (2 balls, 0 runs). In total, Mustafizur took three wickets in just five balls, almost repeating the feat on his final over but narrowly missing a catch off Romario Shepherd, who managed a boundary and a six before falling.

Dubai Capitals were bowled out for 130 in reply to MI Emirates’ 137 for 8 in 20 overs, falling short by just seven runs. Mustafizur, in the chase, scored 1 run before being run out, but his bowling heroics had already sealed the contest.

Mustafizur’s performance emphasises his growing stature in T20 cricket, with the Bangladeshi pacer now continuing to attract attention not only in IPL auctions but also in international franchise leagues.

Mustafizur Rahman – Key Performance Stats

Match Result: Dubai Capitals lost by 7 runs (MI Emirates 137/8; Dubai Capitals 130 all out).