Tuesday, 28 March, 2023
E-paper

Barishal move to top position in BPL

  • Sports Correspondent
  • 28th January, 2023 12:41:02 AM
  • Print news

Fortune Barishal climbed to the top of the points table of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League after they beat Chattogram Challengers by three wickets during their eighth match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Anamul Haque Bijoy struck a brilliant 78 off 50 balls in Barishal’s chase of 169 runs but it was Karim Janat, who made a quick-fire 31 off 12 balls and put up a 50-run stand with Salman Hossain (18 not out) for the seventh wicket to guide Barishal to 171-7 in 19.2 overs to complete their sixth win in the tournament.

Earlier, Chattogram’s Irish all-rounder Curtis Campher struck an unbeaten 45 off 25 balls while Afif Hossain and Max O’Dowd made 37 and 33 runs respectively as they posted 168-6 in their 20 overs after they were asked to bat first.

Barishal now have 12 points from eight matches – the same points as Sylhet Strikers in the seven-team points table but they are ahead of them by virtue of a better net run rate.

Meanwhile, it was Chattogram’s sixth defeat in the tournament – fourth in a row – and they remained in sixth position with four points from eight matches.

Chasing a decent total, Barishal got off to a brilliant start as openers – Anamul and Saif Hassan (10) gave them a 48-run stand before the latter was dismissed by Mehedi Hasan Rana.

After the dismissal, Barishal lost their way in the game and wickets started to fall at regular intervals from one hand.

Chattogram’s left-arm spinner Nihaduzzaman dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (two), Mahmudullah (0), Chaturanga de Silva (three) and Iftikhar Ahmed (13) in the game and finished with a career-best bowling figure of 4-17.

Anamul struck six fours and as many sixes for his first fifty in the ongoing meet but he failed to complete the task as he was bowled by Mrittunjoy Chowdhury while dangerman Iftikhar’s dismissal left Barishal struggling at 117-6.

However, Karim and Salman then provided a brilliant batting display to take Barishal home with four balls to spare.