Barishal overwhelm Khulna in BPL Cricket

Sports Reporter :
Fortune Barishal overwhelmed Khulna Tigers by 37 runs in their 10th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Friday.
Barishal grabbed 14 points from 10 matches, while Khulna Tigers remained with four points from as many matches.
Sent into bat first, Barishal piled up a mammoth total of 194 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Khulna to 157 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Fortune Barishal had a good start with two openers Anamul Haque and Fazle Mahmud put on together 32 runs in the opening stand before Anamul Haque (12) was bowled out by Paul van Meekeren.
After Anamul’s dismissal, Fazle Mahmud and Ibrahim Zadran scored together 41 runs for the second wicket partnership before Fazle Mahmud was dismissed by Hasan Mahmud when Barishal’s score was 73 for the loss of two wickets.
Shakib Al Hasan and Iftikhar Ahmed built a worthy partnership. They added together 52 runs in the four-wicket stand before Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed by Meekeren when Barishal’s score was 149 for the loss of four wickets.
Iftikhar remained unbeaten with 51 runs. His 31-ball innings was laced with three sixes and three fours.
Fazle Mahmud notched up a fine 39. His 29-ball knock saw four fours and two sixes.
Shakib hit a captain’s knock of 36. His 21-ball innings had four sixes and a four. Later, Shakib bagged one wicket for 25 runs. Shakib was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
After Shakib’s departure, Iftikhar and Karim Janat contributed together 40 runs before Janat (16) was caught behind by Shai Hope off Meekeren when Barishal’s total was 189 for the loss of five wickets.
Meekeren grabbed three wickets in the space of 48 runs.
Opener Andy Balbirnie and Shai Hope added together 44 runs in the second wicket stand before Balbirnie (12) was dismissed by pacer Khaled Mahmud when Khulna’s score was 47 for the loss of two wickets.
Later, Yasir Ali and Nahidul Islam of Khulna Tigers made another remarkable partnership. They scored together 81 runs in the five-wicket stand before Nahidul Islam (24) was dismissed by Karim Janat when Khulna’s total was 135 for the loss of five wickets.
Yasir hammered a windy 60. His 38-ball innings laced with five fours and three sixes.
Shai Hope made 37 from 24 balls featuring four fours and a sixer.
Karim Janat was the his team’s most successful bowler with four wickets at the cost of 29 runs.
Khaled Ahmed bagged two wickets for 36 runs.