Back-to-back wins secured Khulna Tigers a playoff spot, while Durbar Rajshahi, despite six wins, faced an unfortunate exit.
Dhaka Capitals got off to a flying start with a blistering knock from Tanzid Hasan. However, their momentum suddenly stalled as they struggled to score runs. With no one stepping up, Dhaka fell short of setting a competitive total. Chasing a modest target, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s composed fifty ensured an easy win for Khulna Tigers, sealing their playoff berth.
Needing to win their last two matches to qualify, Khulna treated these games as ‘knockouts,’ a term captain Miraz himself used. With both victories secured, they knocked Rajshahi out of the tournament.
At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Khulna clinched a comfortable 4-wicket win on Saturday. Both Khulna and Rajshahi finished the group stage with six wins, but Khulna advanced due to a superior net run rate.
Despite Tanzid’s explosive start, Dhaka managed only 123/9. Khulna chased it down effortlessly with 19 balls to spare.
Miraz Leads from the Front
In a crucial match, Miraz shone in both departments. He took the wicket of Liton Das before crafting an unbeaten 74-run innings. Later, he received the Player of the Match award alongside his son.
Tanzid’s Power Hitting
Tanzid set the tone early, smashing three sixes off Nasum Ahmed in the first over. Liton Das also joined the attack, but his aggressive approach backfired as he was dismissed while trying to clear the ropes.
Tanzid, however, continued his onslaught, hitting two consecutive sixes off Mushfik Hasan. Dhaka raced to 44 runs within four overs.
Dhaka’s Collapse
Despite their strong start, Dhaka’s innings lost momentum. Farmanullah Shafi struggled to rotate the strike, and Tanzid, initially explosive, became unusually cautious. It took him another 10 balls to reach his fifty after being stuck on 45 for a while.
Eventually, he perished after scoring 58 off 37 balls, including seven sixes and a solitary four. With 36 sixes in the tournament, he currently leads the batting charts with 485 runs, including four fifties and a century.
Shafi, on the other hand, had a forgettable outing, scoring just 7 off 20 balls without a boundary. Dhaka then suffered a complete collapse, with Thesara Perera and debutant Rahmatullah Ali departing without scoring. Riaz Hasan also struggled, making 5 off 10 balls.
Sabbir’s Late Effort
Sabbir Rahman provided a late push, adding 26 runs in 15 balls with Mehedi Hasan. He struck a boundary and a six in the penultimate over, but Dhaka’s total still fell short of a fighting score.
Hasan and Bostisto’s Bowling Brilliance
Khulna’s Hasan Mahmud delivered an incredible spell, conceding just 5 runs in 4 overs, including a maiden, while taking 2 wickets. His economy rate set a new record for the most economical four-over spell in BPL history, equaling Shahid Afridi (2015) and Nahidul Islam (2019).
William Bostisto also impressed, claiming 2 wickets for just 10 runs in his four overs. Remarkably, all seven Khulna bowlers took at least one wicket, making it the fifth instance in BPL history where seven bowlers shared wickets in a single innings.
Early Pressure on Khulna
Chasing a small target, Khulna lost Mohammad Naim in the very first over to Mustafizur Rahman. Afif Hossain followed suit, edging to point in the next over. Khulna found themselves in early trouble.
Miraz Strikes Back
Despite the early wickets, Miraz took charge. He received good support from Mehedi Hasan and Farmanullah Shafi. In the fifth over, he launched a six off Mehedi’s bowling, followed by a boundary from Alex Ross.
Farmanullah Shafi bowled a chaotic over, conceding a boundary, a six off a free hit, and another four in the powerplay’s final over. Khulna, after scoring just 19 runs in the first four overs, added 34 runs in the next two.
Miraz soon reached his fifty off 33 balls. Although Ross (22 off 19) departed in the 10th over, breaking a 68-run stand, Khulna remained in control.
Miraz Seals the Victory
After Ross’ dismissal, Miraz continued to anchor the chase alongside Bostisto. The pair stitched a crucial 38-run partnership, taking Khulna close to victory. Bostisto eventually fell, but Mohammed Nawaz finished the match in style with a six.
Miraz remained unbeaten on 74 off 55 balls, including 5 fours and 4 sixes, guiding his team to the playoffs.
Mustafizur’s Lone Battle
Mustafizur was the only Dhaka bowler who put up a fight, finishing with 3/16 in 4 overs. This was his first match of the season where he took more than two wickets. He ended the campaign with 13 wickets in 12 matches.
Match Summary:
- Dhaka Capitals: 123/9 in 20 overs (Tanzid 58, Liton 10, Hossain 3, Shafi 7, Sabbir 20, Perera 0, Riaz 5, Rahmatullah 0, Mehedi 13, Abu Jayed 1*, Mustafizur 1*; Nasum 2-0-20-1, Hasan 4-1-5-2, Miraz 4-0-30-1, Mushfik 2-0-31-1, Bostisto 4-0-10-2, Ziaur 2-0-10-1, Nawaz 2-0-15-1)
- Khulna Tigers: 128/4 in 16.5 overs (Miraz 74*, Naim 0, Afif 0, Ross 22, Bostisto 18, Nawaz 6*; Mustafizur 4-0-16-3, Abu Jayed 2.5-0-18-0, Rahmatullah 4-0-24-1, Mehedi 2-0-21-0, Shafi 4-0-47-0)
Result: Khulna Tigers won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
