BPL | Twitter in splits as Saifuddin turns super villain to tease hapless Ashraf in cruel run-out

Fortune Barishal set the yet unbeaten Rangpur Riders a stiff target of 198 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in their group-stage encounter on the back of 40s from their two openers Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto, followed by a blistering 29-ball 61 from Kyle Mayers who carried his bat till the end. Faheem Ashraf also provided the team some late impetus with a sxi-ball cameo of 20 runs, striking a boundary and two maximums in the process. With him and Mayers on the crease for a last over, fireworks felt inevitable but the rapid stand abruptly ended on the second ball in comical fashion.

Mohammad Saifuddin went for a slightly wide yorker to try and shackle Mayers and the plamn worked successfully as the Caribbean big-hitter could only manage an inside-edge along the ground to the wicket-keeper. However, the deflection wrongfooted Nurul Hasan and the keeer had to dive low to his left to keep it from running to the boundary, which provoked Ashraf at the non-striker's end to sneak a single. Unfortunately, Mayers had no such intentions and simply stood his ground with an exasperated expression even as Ashraf came steaming right upto him while Nurul calmly returned the Kookaburra to Saifudding for affecting the runout. The pacer, though, had a stunt up his sleeve as instead of dislodging the bails, he simply waited by the stumps. When Ahsraf began to walk off without even attempting recovery, Saifuddin hilariously beckoned the Pakistani to return with a smirk on his face before veentually dislodging the bail to end the knock.

Twitterati was all for the amusement the pacer provided with a light-hearted moment.

What was that?

He is a beast!

Yeah man!

Big runs!

Yupe he is!

Great innings!

Sheer carnage!

He was on fire!