Dhaka — As the first team of the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), Chattogram Challengers booked a place in the playoff beating Khulna Tigers by six wickets at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
It was the seventh win for the Challengers in 10 games while Khulna Tigers suffered their fourth defeat in nine games.
Replying Khulna Tigers’ moderate total of 121, Challengers chased down the target in 18.1 overs with six wickets in hand. They ended on 124 for four riding on Junaid Siddique’s 38 and Lendl Simmons’s 36.
Junaid and West Indian batsman Lendl added 69 runs for the first wicket. Simmons fell for 36 off 28 balls with three fours and two sixes while Junaid posted 38 off 39 with four fours and one six.
Aliss Islam took the first wicket removing Simmons and Mehidy Hasan took the second wicket scalping Junaid in the twelfth over.
After their dismissals, Challengers lost Asela Gunaratne and Chadwick Walton for a duck and seven runs respectively. Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Shohan came to bat at number five and remained unbeaten on six runs along with captain Imrul Kayes who was not out on 30 from 27 balls with two fours and two sixes to his name.
Veteran South African all-rounder Robbie Frylinck took two wickets conceding 20 runs in four overs while Aliss and Mehidy took one wicket each.
Earlier, Khulna Tigers lost the toss and were sent to bat first. South African superstar Hashim Amla opened the innings for them with Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Mehidy was dismissed by Mehedi Hasan Rana for four runs while Amla scored only eight off six balls before he was sent back by the same bowler. Khulna lost both their openers for just 13 runs.
Rilee Rossouw held firm from one end but Khulna lost Shamsur Rahman for a three-ball duck in the fourth over.
Khulna captain Mushfiqur Rahim came to bat at number five and scored 29 runs from 24 balls before he was bowled by Ziaur Rahman.
In the fifth wicket stand, Rossouw and Robbie Frylinck added 43 runs. But after Rossouw was dismissed by a superb delivery from Kesrick Williams, Khulna lost their last five wickets just in 15 runs. This batting debacle prevented them from scoring a challenging total. They were 121 all out in 19.5 overs.
Bangladesh stalwart Rubel Hossain and Mehedi Hasan took three wickets each conceding 17 and 29 runs respectively while Williams bagged two wickets.
Challengers will take on Rajshahi Royals in their next game on January 7 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium while Khulna Tigers will face off against Cumilla Warriors on January 8 at the same venue.UNB
