Sylhet stun Khulna by five-wicket win

Sports Reporter :
Sylhet Strikers stunned Khulna Tigers by a five-wicket win in the 30th match of the Ispahani Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Friday.

After yesterday’s outcome, Khulna Tigers collected eight points from seven matches, while Sylhet Strikers earned six points from nine matches.

Chasing Khulna’s fighting total of 153 for the loss of three wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, Sylhet coasted home making 159 for the loss of five wickets when they had just six balls to hand.

Sylhet had an unhappy start as opener Samit Patel (13) was dismissed by Nahidul Islam when Sylhet’s score was exact 13.

Opener Harry Tector and one-down Najmul Hossain Shanto rescued their team from danger scoring together 52 runs for the second wicket partnership before Shanto (18) was dismissed by Mark Deyal when Sylhets’s total was 65 for the loss of two wickets.

Harry Tector notched up a marvelous 61. His 52-ball innings was decorated with three sixes and six fours.

Tector was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings Second-down Zakir Hasan was dismissed by Deyal for naught when Sylhet’s score was 65 for the loss of three wickets.

Tector and third-down Mohammad Mithun added together 42 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Mithun (24) was stumped out by Anamul Haque off Deyal when Sylhets’s total was 107 for the loss of four wickets.

Tector and fourth-down Ryan Burl put on together 28 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Tector was dismissed by Sumon Khan when Sylhet’s score was 135 for the loss of five wickets.

Burl and Ariful Haque helped their side to anchor the victory spot.

Burl remained unbeaten with 32 runs. He cracked three sixes and a four in his 16-ball innings.

Deyal grabbed three wickets in the space of 19 runs, while Nahidul Islam and Sumon Khan took one wicket each instead of 11 and 36 runs respectively.

Anamul Haque remained unbeaten with 67 runs. He hit five fours and two sixes in his 58-ball captain’s knock.

Khulna Tigers had a sorrow start as opener Ewin Lewis (12) was dismissed by Samit Patel when Khulna’s score was 19.

Opener Anamul Haque and one-down Afif Hossain mended the innings contributing together 32 runs for the second wicket partnership before Afif Hossain was trapped leg before wicket by Benny Howell when Khulna’s total was 51 for the loss of two wickets.

Second-down Mahmudul Hasan (1) was dismissed by Sunzamul Islam when Khulna’s score was 54 for the loss of three wickets.

Anamul Haque and third-down Habibur Rahman built a notable partnership scoring together 99 runs in the unbroken four-wicket stand before Khulna’s innings came to an end.

Habibur Rahman remained unbeaten with 43 runs. His 30-ball innings was belted with three sixes and three fours.

Sunzamul Islam, Samit Patel and Benny Howell picked up one wicket each for 16, 22 and 27 runs respectively.