Shakib’s Barishal prevail despite Yasir show

A scintillating unbeaten knock from Yasir Ali was not enough as Khulna Tigers succumbed to a narrow six-run defeat against Shakib Al Hasan's Fortune Barishal in their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter under lights at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.  

Yasir smashed an unbeaten 34-ball 57 and stitched together a crucial 79-run stand with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim to help Khulna stage a remarkable fightback after a top-order collapse.

Chasing a 146-run target set by Barishal, Khulna came agonisingly close as they could manage 139 for six in 20 overs. 

Shakib Al Hasan celebrates after taking a wicket. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Before local boy Yasir sparked life into the game through a resilient and fiery knock that featured four boundaries and three maximums, Shakib's all-round performance had put Barishal in the driving seat. 

Thanks to the ace all-rounder's quickfire 27-ball 41 and another steady 45 from Najmul Hossain Shanto, Barishal were able to post a fighting total. 

Shakib then put Khulna on the backfoot with the ball in hand as well, removing opener Soumya Sarkar and Rony Talukdar to have Khulna reeling at 31 for two after nine overs. 

Shakib ended with impressive figures of two for 10 in four overs.

With the required rate creeping up, Khulna lost two more wickets in quick succession before Mushfiqur and Yasir consolidated.

Yasir played the role of an aggressor, batting at a staggering 167.64 strike rate and keeping Khulna in the game till the end. 

Mushfiqur, who rode his luck at times, scored a 22-ball 33 before being dismissed in the penultimate over. 

With 22 required off the final over, substitute JB Lintott took a blinder in the outfield to dismiss Seekkuge Prasanna after the batter had hit a boundary off the very first ball of the over to take the game right down the wire. 

Mahedi Hasan smashed a six off the final delivery of the game but Khulna still fell short on the day.