Barisal clinch a stunning win

Thanks to a special Al-Amin hat-trick, superb tactical changes from skipper Mahmudullah and senseless batting from Sylhet, Barisal managed to defend 108 by a single run.

It was another final-over finish, the fifth in six games kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, as a wicket or a boundary swung the match dramatically.

Taijul Islam bowled the last over and didn’t try too many things and was rewarded, since Fidel Edwards couldn’t line him up.

The Bangladeshi spinner finished his quota of four overs by capturing three wickets for 23 runs.

For Barisal the match could have been in the pocket much earlier, had it not been for two dropped chances of consecutive balls either side of the 18th over.

In that over, player-of-the-match Al-Amin completed his five-for, and took his team to a remarkable comeback win. He bowled four overs, gave away 36 runs and took five wickets.

Mohammad Shahid was the last batsman to fall for Sylhet when he was dismissed by Taijul for 2.

Nazmul Hasan Milon was Al-Amin fifth victim, he nearly crashed Barisal’s party but was sent back for 15 runs from 21 balls.

Mohammad Sami came back to take a wicket in his last ball of the fourth over. He was deadly accurate tonight, and contributed immensely to keep the Sylhet batters quiet. His four overs cost only nine runs.

The turning point of the match was probably Munaweera’s dismissal. He kept Sylhet’s hopes alive as long as he stayed at the crease.

After having done all the hard work, Munaweera's brain freeze resulted in another wicket. Stepped out, he made some room and looked to go over cover but only managed to hit it a little too straight at Prasanna, who took a dolly at long-off to end his Sri Lankan teammate's vigil.

Munaweera was the highest scorer for Sylhet with 36 runs from 31 balls with six fours.

Owais Shah’s misery was ended by Taijul when he was trapped in front for 11 from 29 balls and 35 painful minutes.

Sylhet batsmen were by now restricted to ones and twos by some good overs in the middle from Barisal.

Mushfiqur completed Al-Amin’s hat-trick when he was bowled by a ball that kept a tad low for the batsman’s liking.

Nurul Hasan was dismissed in the previous ball when he looked to dab at the ball, somehow withdrew from the shot and saw his timber rattled.

Al-Amin got Ravi Bopara, the English player hanged his bat outside off and nicked it behind to Taylor.

Bangladeshi right-arm fast medium bowler Al-Amin took the first wicket to fall when Mominul Haque was caught behind for 2.

When things looked quite settled for Sylhet, Taijul came back and sent the cat among the pigeons with two wickets in two balls.

Both Munaweera and Shah were dismissed to the delight of the Barisal fans.

After the burst of wickets early in the chase, Sylhet Super Stars tried to consolidate with Munaweera and Owais Shah with ones and twos, and the bad balls were hard to come by.

Al-Amin Hossain of Barisal Bulls brought back his team into the match in the best way possible, and took a hat-trick to rock Sylhet Super Stars early in their chase.

Sylhet lost Ravi Bopara, Nurul Hasan and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim in three consecutive deliveries from the lanky Barisal fast bowler.

Earlier, Barisal Bulls batsmen suffered brain freeze and collapsed to 108 all out against a spirited Sylhet Super Stars led superbly by Mushfiqur Rahim.

Al-Amin Hossain was the last batsman to fall for Barisal Bulls on a day when their batsmen threw their wickets away recklessly. He was clean bowled by Muhammad Shahid for three.

Al-Amin had a few words with Shahid as both of them barge into each other. Mushfiqur came in between the two, few words exchanged again. Umpires got into the act as they dispersed.

Mohammad Sami was the third run-out victim of the wretched day for Barisal, and went back to the dug-out without even facing a ball.

Barisal’s resistance was finally crushed when Nadif Chowdury was run out in the ‘school-boy cricket’ style due to terrible calling between partners. He fought for 28 balls, scored 24 with one four and a six to his name.

Nazmul Islam got the big wicket of Sabbir Rahman when the Barisal batter used his feet, got to the pitch of the ball, smacked it clean but picked up the lone fielder at mid-wicket. He went for 15 and the slide continued.

Mahmudullah’s wicket was a huge blow for Barisal, as his partner at the other end turned his back and ran out the captain for only seven runs.

Brendan Taylor fell to a soft dismissal, and left his team Barisal in dire straits before the half-way mark of this match.

He was caught and bowled by Nazmul Islam for nine runs.

Barisal openers began spiritedly and looked like taking the game away before being dismissed by Sylhet bowlers.

Shahriar Nafees looked in good touch, but a rising delivery from Fidel Edwards took the edge of his bat and sent him back to the pavilion.

He scored 12 with two boundaries.

Rony Talukdar was the first wicket to fall when he couldn’t hit a wide, short ball from Subashis away, only edged it behind where Mushfiqur didn’t make any mistake.

Rony played only 15 balls for his 20 runs before he was dismissed.

Barisal Bulls captain Mahmudullah won the toss, and decided to bat first against Sylhet Super Stars in the 6th game of BPL-2015.

After a nervy win last night, Barisal skipper would want his entire team to lift themselves, and perform to their potential in this match tonight.

Sylhet Super Stars played with only two overseas players in their previous game, but the good news is their local contingent is filling some big boots quite brilliantly.

For this game, Sylhet captain Mushfiqur Rahim will have the services of Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Fidel Edwards and Dilshan Munaweera.

Barisal Bulls are unchanged. So their four foreigners will be Kevon Cooper, Brendan Taylor, Seekkuge Prasanna and Mohammad Sami.

Game On!

Sylhet Super Stars

EMDY Munaweera, Junaid Siddique, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain, Wicketkeeper), Nurul Hasan, Sohail Tanvir, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Mohammad Shahid, BAW Mendis, Nazmul Islam, Subashis Roy, Nasum Ahmed, Abu Sayeem, JJ Cobb, BJ Hodge, RS Bopara, Rubel Hossain and  FH Edwards

Barisal Bulls

Shahriar Nafees, Rony Talukdar, BRM Taylor (Wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah (Captain), Sabbir Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Mohammad Sami, KK Cooper, Taijul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, S Prasanna, Mehedi Maruf, E Lewis, Sajedul Islam, CH Gayle, Sharifullah, N Dutta and Imad Wasim