Hazratullah Zazai, Rubel Hossain star in Dhaka Dynamites' opening win

Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai blasted a 41-ball 78 to lead Dhaka Dynamites to an 83-run win against Rajshahi Kings in their Bangladesh Premier League opener at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

After being asked to bat first, Dynamites ran up 189 for 5 on the back of a 116-run opening stand between Zazai and Sunil Narine, who made 38 off 28 balls. Shuvagata Hom, who slammed an unbeaten 38 off 14 balls, and Andre Russell then provided the finishing kick after a brief hobble in the middle overs.

In response, Kings were bowled out for 106 in 18.2 overs, with fast bowler Rubel Hossain taking 3 for 7 in his three overs. Seamer Mohor Sheikh also impressed, picking up 2 for 24 on T20 debut.

Dynamites blazed to 113 for 0 in the first 10 overs.
Then they lost five wickets in the space of 4.4 overs.
Dynamites recovered through an unbroken 53-run stand for the sixth wicket between Hom and Russell.

Zazai lived up to his top billing with seven sixes, most of them hit straight between long-on and long-off. He struck Mehidy Hasan Miraz alone for five sixes, including one over midwicket. Zazai, who was dropped on 50, added 28 to his tally before he was dismissed in the 12th over. He poses a big threat to the bowlers who bowl too full to him in the BPL.

After Mominul Haque dropped Russell in the 17th over, Dhaka clubbed 48 runs in their last 3.1 overs.

Dynamites, who had reached the final in the 2017 BPL, enjoyed rousing start to the new season while Kings, who finished sixth last year, need a lot of improvement in all departments.