Shakib instrumental as Barishal go top

It was another impactful performance from Fortune Barishal skipper Shakib Al Hasan that saw his team pick up two wins from two matches in the Chattogram phase of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), after defeating Chattogram Challengers by 14 runs at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

Having gone against the trend yet again in this match, electing to bat after winning the toss, Barishal were handed a steady start by Chris Gayle and Najmul Hossain Shanto after an early wicket in the very first over. Scoring was still slow with Gayle then departing to Will Jacks for 19-ball 25. Shanto then departed to an inconclusive ADRS review after the umpire had give not out following a 29-ball 28. 

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Shakib showed his new power-hitting tactics binding the innings together with Towhid Hridoy during a 55-run fourth wicket stand. Hitting Nasum Ahmed for three sixes off consecutive deliveries in the 15th over, Shakib completed his first fifty this BPL and his 20th in T20 format. However, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, who had struck a hattrick against Sylhet Sunrisers their previous match, once again turned up for the death overs, first picking up Shakib's wicket after a 31-ball 50 before bagging three wickets in the penultimate over of the innings as Barishal slumped from 132 for 5 in 16.3 overs to 149 all out. Mrittunjoy bagged four for 12 runs in 2 overs while Shoriful scalped two for 9 runs in 2.1 overs.

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Afghan spin wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman had his say in the very first over, picking up the wicket of in-form Will Jacks, out leg-before for a duck which the batter failed to reverse with a ADRS review. Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain however put together a 70-run stand for the second wicket with the game tilting away from Barishal.

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

That is when Shakib once again came into the picture. Having not brought himself on during the first 10 overs of Chattogram innings, Shakib then got the crucial breakthrough with the wicket of Afif, scalping the left-hander after a well-made 39 off 32 deliveries. After a slow-paced 30-ball 29, Shamim failed to connect a Mehedi Hasan Rana delivery as Barishal got back into the game. After Shakib accounted for Chattogram skipper Naeem Islam, Mujeeb came back into the attack to remove the dangerous Benny Howell(1) and Akbar Ali (0). Shakib then bagged his third with Chadwick Walton's wicket to finish with an impactful 3 for 23 off four overs.

Mehedi Miraz fought back hard during a 13-ball 26 before he departed out bowled trying to scoop Dwayne Bravo. With 18 needed off the last over, Bravo ensured a 14-run win as Chattogram were bowled out for 135.