Record-breaking opening stand steers Khulna into Playoffs

With survival at stake, Khulna Tigers rose to the occasion and rode on an outstanding opening partnership between Andre Fletcher and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan to qualify for the Play-off stage as they sealed an sensational nine-wicket victory against Comilla Victorians in the second night game of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Mirpur today.

Khulna's victory meant that they have secured the fourth spot after the group phase and went ahead of Minister Group Dhaka, who find themselves out of the BPL race. Khulna are now set to join Fortune Barishal, Comilla Victorians and Chattogram Challengers in the Playoffs, where they will take on Chattogram in the Eliminator round.

Runs and overall entertainment of the T20 format were in abundance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in both games today. And big knocks were on offer from the overseas players. Will Jacks scored a blistering 92 as Chattogram Challengers successfully chased 186-run target with five deliveries and four wickets to spare against Sylhet Sunrisers earlier in the day. Then Khulna Tigers raised the level further as they breezed their way into the 183-run target set by Comilla with eight balls and nine wickets to spare.

The South African Faf du Plessis was on the losing side, in the end, despite scoring a ton. And Khulna, under pressure of being knocked out of the tournament, came out all guns blazing during the chase as it rained sixes from the get-go, courtesy of 'Spiceman' Fletcher's 101 off 62 balls and Mehedi's 74 off 49.

The West Indian Fletcher struck six sixes while Mehedi struck four sixes during their stellar 182-run opening partnership, which became the highest partnership for any wicket in the BPL, having surpassed Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Shahzad's 173-run opening stand against Sylhet.