Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a majestic hundred to help Chattogram Challengers qualify for the playoffs of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League after they beat Khulna Tigers by 65 runs in their last league match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Tuesday.

Tanzid struck 116 off 65 balls – his maiden T20 hundred –with eight fours and as many sixes while Tom Bruce made 36 not out as Chattogram posted 192-4 in 20 overs after they elected to bat first.

The pair of Tanzid and Bruce started the partnership after Chattogram were reduced to 60-2 in the eighth over and their blistering stand of 110 runs gave Chattogram a big total to defend in the crucial contest.

“I never thought like this (scoring a hundred). I was losing my wicket after getting set on the crease. I was trying to carry on after getting a good start. Today I tried the same,” Tanzid told reporters after the match.

It was also only the third hundred in the ongoing edition of BPL after Comilla Victorians batters Tawhid Hridoy and Will Jacks achieved the feat in the earlier games. It was also the highest individual score in the ongoing edition of the BPL.

Khulna, in reply, lost their opener Parvez Hossain Emon (six) in the second over before skipper Anamul Haque Bijoy (35) and Shai Hope (31) put up a 54-run stand for the second wicket.

However, the dismissal of Anamul to pacer Shohidul Islam triggered a batting collapse in Khulna innings as they lost their last nine wickets for just 60 runs to get bowled out for just 127 runs in 19.5 overs.

Chattogram skipper Shuvagata Hom finished with 3-25 while their Omani recruit Bilal Khan also took two wickets.

The defeat also almost ended Khulna’s playoff chances as they will now be required to beat Sylhet Strikers in their last league game by a big margin while they need to also hope that Fortune Barishal, who are now in the fourth position with 12 points, lose their last league game to Comilla.

Khulna are now in fifth place with 10 points from 11 games while both Chattogram and Comilla confirmed their playoff berths after earning 14 points from 12 and 10 matches respectively.

Rangpur have already booked their place in the first qualifier after earning 18 points before their last league game against Comilla, which was scheduled for later on Tuesday.