Smashed unbeaten 86 vs India in T20 WC 2022 semifinal, former England opener who pulled out of IPL smashes match-winning 113

Arun Rawal

Arun Rawal

UPDATED:

Smashed unbeaten 86 vs India in T20 WC 2022 semifinal, former England opener who pulled out of IPL smashes match-winning 113
Alex Hales celebrates after reaching fifty in BPL clash.

Story Highlights:

Alex Hales smashed 7 sixes in his unbeaten 113.

Rangpur Riders chased down the target of 206 with an over to spare.

Hales retired from international cricket in 2023.

England's T20 World Cup-winning opener Alex Hales who retired from international cricket in 2023 is still tormenting the bowlers. In the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024-25, Hales scored an unbeaten 113 in the successful run chase for Rangpur Riders against Sylhet Strikers on January 6.

Hassan, Hales keep up with required run rate

In the run chase of 206, Rangpur Riders lost their opener Md Azizul Hakim Tamim for a five-ball duck to Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Hales hit the first six of his innings in the powerplay overs. Riders had 54 runs for one wicket after six overs. Saif Hassan attacked from the other end as well. At the halfway stage, Riders were 96/1.

Hales finishes run chase in style

In the 11th over, Hassan reached his fifty from 31 balls with a six. Hales completed his fifty in the 13th over with a boundary. He went berserk in the 16th over as the required run rate climbed up. Hales smashed Ariful Haque for three sixes and a four. In the 18th over, Sakib broke the partnership with Hassan's wicket. He hit seven sixes and three fours in his 49-ball 80. In the penultimate over, Iftikhar Ahmed hit Al-Amin Hossain for a six and gave the strike to Hales. The 36-year-old finished the run chase with two consecutive sixes. Riders won by eight wickets with an over to spare. Hales' knock of 113 off 56 balls featured 10 fours and seven sixes.

ALSO READ: Babar Azam furious at South Africa pacer Wiaan Mulder after getting hit by wild throw, gets involved in verbal spat; watch viral video

Earlier, Rony Talukdar, Zakir Hasan's half-centuries and cameos from USA's Aaron Jones and wicketkeeper-Jaker Ali helped Sylhet Strikers post 205/4 after Riders captain Nurul Hasan won the toss and opted to bowl first.

ALSO READ: BCCI announces India's ODI squad for three-match series, star pacer and captain rested

When Hales opted out of IPL

Hales retired from international cricket nearly a year after their T20 World Cup 2022 title win. He opted out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after getting picked for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He cited bubble fatigue as the reason behind skipping the T20 league. Hales last played IPL in 2018 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).