The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram saw Towhid Hridoy deliver a match-winning performance for the defending BPL champions, the Comilla Victorians, on Wednesday.
In a stunning turnaround, Hridoy smashed an unbeaten 91 off just 47 balls after suffering a first-ball duck in their previous match. His destructive innings, featuring seven boundaries and seven sixes, propelled Comilla to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Khulna Tigers.
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Khulna opted to bat first but failed to gain significant momentum, ending their innings at 164/8. The Victorians bowlers kept the scoring in check, with Moeen Ali (2/46) and Matthew Forde (2/36) proving the most effective.
The Victorians' chase started poorly, with Litton Das dismissed cheaply, but Will Jacks (18) steadied the innings.
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Towhid then showcased his full potential, reaching his half-century in just 27 balls. His earlier century in the tournament had marked the BPL season's first, and Wednesday’s form further cements him as a crucial player for the defending champions. Johnson Charles (13) and Jaker Ali (40*) played supporting roles as Comilla cruised to victory with 21 balls remaining.
This win keeps the Comilla Victorians comfortably placed in the BPL points table, while the Khulna Tigers' struggles in the tournament continue as they suffer their fifth consecutive defeat.
BPL 2024: Historic losing streak ends Dhaka's playoff hopes
In the day's other match, Fortune Barishal bounced back from recent struggles to defeat Durdanto Dhaka by 27 runs. Tamim Iqbal anchored Barishal's innings with 71, while Alex Hales (89*) made a valiant effort for Dhaka. However, Barishal's bowlers, led by three-wicket hauls from Khaled Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin, sealed the victory. This win lifts Barishal to third place in the standings.
In stark contrast, Dhaka's dismal season continues. They now face the ignominy of a record nine consecutive defeats, the worst losing streak in BPL history.