In the last match of the Chattogam leg of this year’s Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Fortune Barishal beat Chattogram Challengers by 14 runs on Tuesday and topped the table with eight points.
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Barishal, hit a stunning fifty, and Chris Gayle, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Towhid Hridoy also did well with the bat to post a challenging total of 149 runs while batting first after winning the toss.
Despite losing Munim Shahriar early, Barishal’s innings never seemed to have lost track thanks to the firm show by the middle-order batters. They also suffered a batting collapse in the lower middle-order.
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For Chattogram, young left-arm seamer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury scalped four wickets in two overs with a two-in-two. Along with him, Shoriful Islam also did well with the ball taking two wickets.
In reply, Chattogram lost opener Will Jacks in the first over. In the second-wicket stand, Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain added 70 runs on the board. This pair was guiding the Challengers to a successful chase, but Shakib broke the stand removing Afif for 39.
The Challengers were unable to carry on the good run and eventually tumbled for 135 for all wickets in 19.4 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 26 off 13 balls with three fours and one six, but his effort was not enough for the Challengers to avoid a defeat.
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Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman bagged three for nine in four overs while Shakib also bagged three for 23 in four overs. Dwayne Bravo and Mehedi Hasan Rana took two wickets each.
Barishal will play Minister Group Dhaka on February 3 in Dhaka while Chattogram will take on Comilla Victorians on the same day.