After a stunning five-wicket haul by Faheem Ashraf and an unbeaten half-century from Tamim Iqbal, Fortune Barishal crushed Sylhet Strikers to secure a spot in the playoffs.
With just one run needed for victory and Tamim two runs away from his half-century, the Barishal skipper drove Suman Khan’s delivery straight down the ground. The ball raced towards the boundary while Mushfiqur Rahim, at the non-striker’s end, started to run. Tamim signaled him to stop—he wasn’t settling for a single. As the ball crossed the rope, Tamim celebrated his fifty, ending the match in style. It was a lighthearted moment in a game where Barishal dominated, securing an easy 8-wicket win.
Faheem’s Fireworks with the Ball
Barishal started strong, with Faheem Ashraf shining in the bowling department. His figures of 5/7 from just 3.1 overs were the second-best in this season’s BPL. Supported by other Barishal bowlers, Sylhet was restricted to just 116 runs in 18.1 overs.
Sylhet’s Struggles
The Strikers had a rocky start, losing George Munsey for just 4 runs in the second over. Zakir Hasan followed soon after with just one boundary to his name, and Rony Talukdar managed only 9 before falling to Faheem. Newcomer Ahsan Bhatti, a debutant in T20 cricket, showed some resistance with a 28-run knock off 29 balls, including two sixes and a four. However, Sylhet’s innings lacked momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Barishal’s Chase and Tamim’s Form
Chasing a modest target, Barishal batted calmly. While Towhid Hridoy’s poor form continued, scoring just 6, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured there were no further hiccups. Their unbroken 81-run partnership off 60 balls sealed the win with four overs to spare. Tamim remained unbeaten on 52 off 51 balls, marking his third half-century of the tournament. Mushfiq, returning to form, scored an unbeaten 42 off 30 balls, his highest score this season.
Match Summary:
- Sylhet Strikers: 116 in 18.1 overs (Bhatti 28, Jaker 24; Faheem 5/7, Fuller 2/23)
- Fortune Barishal: 120/2 in 16 overs (Tamim 52*, Mushfiq 42*; Nahidul 1/24, Tanzim 1/23)
Result: Fortune Barishal won by 8 wickets.
Player of the Match: Faheem Ashraf.
