Dhaka Capitals vs Noakhali Express, 22nd Match

The upcoming 22nd match of the Bangladesh Premier League 2025-26 between Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium promises to be an intriguing encounter. Dhaka Capitals have demonstrated consistent form, winning 3 of their last 5 matches with a balanced combination of power hitters and reliable bowlers. Their middle-order batting has been particularly resilient, anchored by key players delivering under pressure. On the other hand, Noakhali Express has been somewhat inconsistent, winning 2 of their recent 5 games but showing flashes of brilliance, especially in their bowling attack which includes some promising young pacers and experienced spinners. Head-to-head encounters between these two teams show a fairly even contest with slight edge to Dhaka Capitals who have won 55% of previous meetings, mostly due to their superior adaptability to pitch conditions in Sylhet. The Capitals’ strength lies in their aggressive top-order batting coupled with tight death overs bowling. Noakhali Express is likely to bank on exploiting early swing and spin with their varied bowling lineup and aim to restrict Capitals to a manageable total. Strategically, Dhaka Capitals might opt to bat first to leverage the powerplay and set a challenging target, given Sylhet pitch’s tendency to slow down in the second innings. Noakhali Express, however, could benefit from batting first if they get early wickets due to the pressure the Capitals’ bowling can apply under lights. Looking at recent performances and squad depth, Dhaka Capitals stand marginally favored but a surprise can never be ruled out in this tightly matched game.

AI suggested match winner: Dhaka Capitals: 57%, Noakhali Express: 43%

If Dhaka Capitals bat first, considering the Sylhet pitch that offers slow turn later in the innings, they are likely to post a competitive total around 165-175 runs. Their top order has shown power hitting skills that can capitalize on the initial good batting conditions. Should Noakhali Express elect to bat first, they would aim for a similar range, roughly 160-170, relying on their young stroke-makers to build momentum upfront. However, slower pitch conditions could slow scoring after 10 overs, making it crucial to have a balanced innings with aggressive contributions up front. Overall, a first innings score between 165 and 175 is the expected norm here.

The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has historically offered a slow, turning wicket with moderate bounce. Average first-innings scores here hover around 165 in T20 games. Teams batting first have a winning percentage slightly above 52%, indicating a moderately favorable pitch for the team batting first. Weather forecast suggests clear skies with mild humidity and temperature around 28°C, ideal for cricket with no anticipated interruptions. Top performers on this ground amongst the two teams include: - Best bowler: Rashid Al Hasan (Dhaka Capitals) with 14 wickets in last 5 matches here. - Best batsman: Imran Siddique (Noakhali Express), averaging 43.5 over past matches at Sylhet. - Best performance: Imran Siddique’s unbeaten 89 off 52 balls for Noakhali Express in a previous season, setting a pinnacle record on this ground.

Stat	Dhaka Capitals	Noakhali Express
Matches Played	10	10
Matches Won	6	4

Team Recent Performance

Team	Last 5 Matches
Dhaka Capitals	WWLWL
Noakhali Express	LLWLW

Rashid Al Hasan: The leading wicket-taker for Dhaka Capitals this season, Rashid’s ability to extract turn and control run flow makes him a vital cog in the bowling unit.

Arif Hossain: Dhaka Capitals’ explosive top-order batsman, recently scoring back-to-back 40+ innings under pressure, essential in setting up big totals.

Imran Siddique: Noakhali Express’s premier batsman, with a recent run of consistent 30+ scores, known for building innings on slow pitches.

Fahim Rahman: Promising spinner for Noakhali Express, showing improvement with crucial middle-overs breakthroughs in the last few games.