Fortune Barisal almost assures play-off berth outplaying Sylhet Strikers

Dhaka, 26 Jan - Defending champions Fortune Barishal, led by Tamim Iqbal Khan, almost ascertained their play-off berth from 7-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket outplaying lowly Barishal Strikers by eight wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.

After the day’s match, Fortune Barishal remained at the 2nd slot in the league table securing 14 points from nine matches while Rangpur Riders confirmed the in the four-team ploy-off berth  securing 16 points from nine encounters.

Winning the toss, Sylhet Strikers batted first and were all out cheaply for 116 runs in 18.1 overs with two down left handed Pakistani batsman Ahsan Bhatti contributing the team highest 28 runs off 29 balls, hitting one boundary and two over boundaries.

Wicket keeper Jaker Ali (24), Tanzim Hasan Sakib (13), captain Ariful Haque (12) were the other main scorers for the Strikers.

Fortune Barshal’s Pakistani right arm medium pacer Faheem Ashraf made the major damage in Strikers innings grabbing five wickets for seven runs in just 3.1 overs and was adjudged player of the match.

James Fuller of England and Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan claimed two wickets each conceding 23 and 26 runs respectively.

Chasing a target of 117 runs, Fortune Barishal faced no trouble to achieve their goal scoring 120 for 2 in 16 overs featuring 81 runs in the 3rd wicket stand by captain Tamim Iqbal and former national captain Mushfiqur Rahim

After the departure of opener Towhid Hridoy (6) and one down David Malan (9) for 39 runs in six overs, captain Tamim Iqbal pairing with Mushfiqur Rahim guided the tea, towards victory scoring 81 runs in the 3rd wicket stand.

Another opener Tamim Iqbal scored the captain knock of unbeaten 52 runs off 51 runs, featuring six boundaries while former national captain cum wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim hammered an unbeaten 30-ball 42 runs with four hits to the fence and one over the fence.

Sumon Khan and Nahidul Islam took one wicket each giving 17 and 24 runs respectively.