Kent all-rounders Azhar Mahmood and Darren Stevens starred for the Dhaka Gladiators in their first game in the Bangladesh Premier League.

However, the result didn’t go their way as they were beaten by the Khulna Royal Bengals by nineteen runs in Mirpur.

The game had started so brightly for Mahmood as he caught and bowled South African international batsman Herschelle Gibbe for just fourteen before clean bowling West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul for nineteen.

Mahmood went on to post figures of 2 for 20 off his four overs as the Bengals amassed 175 for 5 off their 20 overs with Stevens being overlooked in the bowling department, although he did pull of a decent catch to remove Dwayne Smith.

Once again, it was the Kent batsmen that showed the way when it came to their innings with Mahmood smacking 28 off just 16 balls, getting off the mark with a six, but was caught behind off the bowling of West Indian Andre Russell.

Stevens was equally in fine form with the bat and formed a decent partnership with big hitting Kieron Pollard as the Gladiators looked to chase down the big total.

The all-rounder went on to hit 38 off just 32 balls before being run out trying to accelerate the run rate as the game started to slip from Dhaka’s grasp.

In the end, the Dhaka Gladiators lost by nineteen runs, but will have chance to avenge that defeat when they play the Syhlet Royals on Sunday.