Chittagong Kings advance to playoff beating Sylhet Strikers

Dhaka, 30 Jan - Chittagong Kings advanced to the four-team playoff stage of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket with one match to spare, beating lowly Sylhet Strikers by 96 runs at the floodlit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Thursday evening.

After the day’s match, Chittagong Kings remained in the third slot in the seven-team league to assure the playoff stage, securing 14 points from eleven matches, and will play their remaining match with league leader Fortune Barisal on February 1.

Fortune Barishal and Rangpur Riders already reached the “Qualifiers” as the two best teams of the playoff stage, securing 18 and 16 points, respectively, playing 11 and 12 matches. 

Durbar Rajshahi and Khulna Tigers are battling for the 4th and last spot of the playoff stage, securing 12 and 10 points, respectively, playing 12 and 11 matches.

Sent into bat first in the day’s 2nd match, Chittagong Kings scored a moderate 196 runs for 8 in quota 20 overs, featuring two half centuries by opener Khawja Nafay and captain Mohammad Mithun.

After the departure of two top-order batsmen—Parvez Hossain Emon (1) and Graham Clark (1)—cheaply for 17 runs in 2.3 overs, Pakistani opener Khawja Nafay paired with two-down captain Mohammad Mithun, contributing 94 runs in the 3rd wicket stand.

Opener Khawja Nafay quick-fired 52 runs off 30 balls hitting one four and five sixes while two dwon Mohammad Mithun scored also 52 runs off 38 balls with the help of two four and three sixes.

Besides, Shamim Hossain hits 23 balls for 38 runs with four boundaries and two over boundaries, while Khaled Ahmed made 13 balls for 25 runs with two fours and two sixes.

Tazim Hasan Sakib grabbed three wickets for 37 runs, while Samiullah Shinwari and Ruyel Miah took two wickets each, conceding 36 and 42 runs, respectively.

Chasing a huge target of 197 runs, Sylhet Strikers were bundled out cheaply for just 100 runs in 15.2 overs.

Zaker Hasan (19), Jaker Ali (17), wicketkeeper Rony Talukder (17), Nahidul Islam (14), and captain Ariful Haque (11) were major scorers for Sylhet Strikers.

Nationally coloured Shoriful Islam made the major damage in the Sylhet innings, snatching four wickets for just five runs in 3.2 overs, and was adjudged player of the match. 

Khaled Ahmed also grabbed four wickets for 31 runs in three overs.BSS