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That's it from the first match of the day in BPL! We have another game coming up shortly with the Chattogram Challengers facing Duronto Dhaka. Do join us for that as this is Sourabh Agrawal in company of Mohul Bhowmick taking your leave. See you!
Fortune Barishal have handed the Sylhet Strikers their 7th defeat of these season and have officially put an end to their playoff hopes and meanwhile they themselves have got their 6th win of the season and have consolidated their position in the third place on the points table.
Having come out to chase 183, the Sylhet Strikers got off to the worst-possible start and were 2-down at the end of the first over without adding anything to the scoreboard. Kyle Mayers was moving the ball beautifully and accounted for Harry Tector and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was dismissed by a blinder of a catch at first slip by Soumya Sarkar, in the first over itself. Some poor running, another brilliant catch and also some brainless batting meant that Sylhet Strikers were left tottering at 6/40 inside the first 10 overs.
After this point of time, what followed was the largest seventh wicket partnership in BPL history. Ariful Islam and Benny Howell combined and took their team from a really hopeless position but one where they could see the finishing line for once. The duo added 108 in 52 deliveries with some breathtaking shots before Ariful was dismissed on 57 by McCoy. Howell, gave it his all on his way to 52, but when he got in the last over it was all over for the Sylhet Strikers.
Earlier in the piece, the batters of Fortune Barishal had themselves found their team in an iffy situation at 45/3 after Tanzim Sakib removed both their openers in the powerplay. But then, Mushfiqur Rahim and the BPL debutant formed a lovely 84-run partnership in their way to 53 and 48 respectively before some handy contributions came in from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmuduallah.
Talking about the bowling efforts, Kyle Mayers, the BPL debutant, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/12 to go along with the 3-fer from Tanzid Sakib for the Sylhet Strikers in the first innings.
Tamim Iqbal (Fortunal Barishal captain) - Definitely we learn to finish the game from the position we were in, but at the same time, we are learning if we face a similar position in the playoffs. If you see our records, different players have performed for us. It was a tactical call (on Mehidy Hasan playing lower down the order). People always have questions, when I batted him up the order, they asked why not send him at 7 (laughs).
Kyle Mayers (Player of the Match) - This is great ground, full of memories, last time I was here I got a player of the match and scored a double hundred. It was a brilliant partnership, Mushfiqur played really well and he was a really busy player and complimented me well. It was just me being me (on his new-ball spell). Tried to pitch it up and get some movement, of course, batting in the first inning helped.
Mohammad Mithun (Sylhet Strikers' captain): We are consistently playing poorly in the powerplay. The bowlers did a good job but we lost too many wickets in the powerplay. After that, Arif and Benny played extremely well, but it was not enough. When your batters are not doing well, you have to try something new. We have done that, but we have still not found our rhythm. Hopefully, it will change in the next game.
Fortune Barishal have won this contest by 18 runs and have knocked Sylhet Strikers out of BPL 2024
20
overs
165/8score
0
W
1
1
1
1
runs
Tanzim Sakib*
9(4)
Sunzamul Islam
2(2)
Mohammad Saifuddin
1/28
19.6 Mohammad Saifuddin to Tanzim Sakib, full and straight on off and middle, comes back in. Sakib tries to whip it away to the on side but can only pat it back to the bowler. FORTUNE BARISHAL WIN THIS GAME!
19.5 Mohammad Saifuddin to Sunzamul Islam, fuller on the pads. Islam flicks it away towards deep fine leg. Single taken.
19.4 Mohammad Saifuddin to Tanzim Sakib, short of a length and wide outside off, moves away. Sakib slaps it down to deep cover. A run taken.
19.3 Mohammad Saifuddin to Sunzamul Islam, low full toss outside off. Islam punches it towards cover and GETS OFF THE MARK!