Defending champions Dhaka Gladiators opened their campaign with an impressive 62-run win over Khulna Royal Bengals in the inaugural match of the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 on Friday.
Gladiators won the toss and piled up 204 for four at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur after Owasis Shah blasted 84 off just 48 balls with four fours and six sixes.
In reply, Royal Bengals managed just 142-8 after Mosharraf Hossain claimed a fantastic 4-9.
The experienced England batsman was ably supported by Anamul Haque (50 off 39 balls - four fours and three sixes) and Shakib Al Hasan (14-ball 27 not out).
Gladiators lost Joshua Cobb (17) and Mohammad Ashraful (22) but Anamul and Shah rebuilt the innings putting on 90 runs for the third wicket in 10 overs.
Dolar Mahmud eventually broke the stand to finish with 3-40.
But Shah and Shakib then plundered 64 runs towards the end.
Royal Bengals lost wickets at regular intervals.
Opener Riki Wessels top-scored with 30. Asif Ahmed and Nazimuddin scored 29 and 27 respectively.
Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi (2-29) and Shakib (1-27) were the other wicket-takers.
