Khulna in 2nd spot after tricky chase

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Ariful Haque put on a match-winning fifth-wicket stand of 70 runs to help guide Khulna Titans to a five-wicket win, their second over Chittagong Vikings and their third of this season's Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Banga National stadium last night.

With three wins in six games Khulna are now in second position on the points table while Chittagong, having tumbled to their fourth defeat in six games, are in second-last spot in the seven-team table, above only Rangpur Riders, who have one win from three.

Khulna were just 12 runs short of the 161-run target when Ariful was dismissed for 34 off 24 balls, an innings which featured three sixes, two of which were struck in consecutive deliveries off leg-spinner Tanbir Hayder. But Mahmudullah saw his side home with an unbeaten 48 off 35 balls with four fours and a six. Carlos Brathwaite faced just two balls from Taskin Ahmed and smashed them for a four and a six before Mahmudullah hit the winning boundary off Chris Jordan with 10 balls left in the innings.

Khulna Titans skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (R) celebrates their third win of BPL 2017 with Carlos Brathwaite after hitting the winning runs against Chittagong Vikings at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. Photo: Star

Player-of-the-match Rilee Rossouw started the chase in blistering fashion, hitting five fours and three sixes in 26 balls before being bowled by off-spinner Al Amin one run short of his fifty. Having already lost opener Michael Klinger (1) and Dhiman Ghosh (4) before Roussow's departure, Khulna were in trouble when they lost Nazmul Hossain (9) and were brought down to 79 for four inside 10 overs. But that only set the stage for the captain and the youngster to end as heros.

Earlier, Khulna's fielders dropped a total of six catches -- three of those misses coming from Mahmudullah -- after Chittagong Vikings were asked to bat first.

Luke Ronchi – leading the side after Misbahul Haq was left out – departed early but Chittagong rode on Anamul Haque and Soumya Sarkar's 100-run stand for the second wicket. Left-hander Soumya was lucky to be dropped thrice but could not capitalise as he was dismissed for an unconvincing 34-ball 32.

Anamul, however, looked confident and went on to smash his fifty off 37 balls. The right-hander was dismissed when he edged Abu Jayed to wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh after scoring a 47-ball 62 with the help of five fours and three sixes, two of those coming off pacer Shafiul Islam.

Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran struck three fours and two sixes in his 24 off 16 balls before being run out, while Stiaan van Zyl was not out on a 15-ball 23 with two sixes as the Vikings scored 52 in the last five overs.

Jayed continued his good form, picking up three for 26 from his four overs.