Barishal seal victory over Chattogram despite Miraz glimpse

Fortune Barishal made a good start to the eighth edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), edging Chattogram Challengers past by four wickets in a low-scoring affair at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Chattogram were restricted to 125-8 and Barishal also huffed and puffed on their way to victory as they made 126-6.

Chattogram captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz ended with an envious figure of 4-0-16-4 but his four wickets haul couldn’t make any difference.

Opener Shykat Ali was the highest scorer for Barishal with 39 off 35, hitting one four and two sixes. Shykat kept the side’s nose ahead once Miraz took the wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession.

Towhid Hridoy and Irfan Shukkur scored identical 16 runs to give Shykat some support. Miraz however removed Shukkur and Shykat in his second spell to get the side back into track.

But Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten 12 and Ziaur Rahman’s quick 19 batted with calculated aggression to sail the side home.

Earlier, Benny Howell propelled Chattogram past 100 runs mark with his ultra-aggressive batting. He blasted 41 off 20 with three fours and as many sixes and his knock came at the moment when Chattogram’s innings needed an impetus following a disastrous start. Opener Will Jacks was the other notable scorer with 16 while Naeem Islam made 15.

Barishal’s West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph claimed 3-32 while Nayeem Hasan scalped 2-25. Shakib though got one wicket, he gave away just nine runs in his four overs.

ARR