Miraz's spin leak in CPL, Tahir says, 'World-class bowler'

3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs.

Mehedi Hasan Miraj's debut in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) was like a dream. Miraj's bowling along with 5 wickets from 47-year-old Imran Tahir helped Guyana Amazon Warriors defeat St Lucia Kings by 4 wickets this morning.

Miraj joined the CPL towards the end of the tournament. There are 8 matches left in the tournament. Miraj joined Guyana as a replacement for Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Afghan all-rounder Nabi left the CPL to play the T20 series against India.

Nabi is one of Guyana's key performers. He is also Guyana's highest wicket-taker so far, taking 13 wickets in 7 matches. It will not be easy for Miraj to fill his void. But the Bangladesh spinner has started well.

Miraj got a wicket in his first over in Providence. In the seventh over of the innings, he dismissed John Campbell with the last ball. Campbell caught Miraj's air-borne ball at long off. In his third over, he dismissed Kemal Savory and Charit Asalanka.

Savory fell into the trap of LBW. However, he would have survived if he had taken the review. The replay later showed that the ball did not hit the stumps. Miraj's third victim, Asalanka, returned to the wicket and was caught by Shai Hope.

Miraj, who took 3 wickets, mainly played the role of a side captain today. The real hero was Guyana captain Imran Tahir. This leg-spinner took 5 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs. The spin partnership of Tahir and Miraj led to St. Lucia being bowled out for 119 runs. Miraj's Guyana lost 6 wickets again in 18.3 overs to chase the run.

Miraj could not do well in batting and was out for 1 run. The Man of the Match award went to Tahir. While accepting the award, Tahir praised Miraj, saying, "We had Nabi in our team. Nabi was a very high-quality bowler, he was our best bowler. Miraj came there and bowled really well. That's what we were thinking. It's really great to have him in the team! Miraj is a world-class bowler, he has been performing all over the world at the international level."

-Prothom Alo, Bangladesh