Sylhet register BPL’s third-highest successful chase 

Shakib Al Hasan's entertaining fifty went in vain as Sylhet Strikers pulled off the third-highest successful run-chase in the history of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to gun down Fortune Barishal by six wickets in the days' second fixture at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

The holders of the highest successful chase in BPL are Khulna Tigers, who had chased 207 runs against Dhaka Platoon back in 2020, while Sylhet Royals had chased 197 runs against Rangpur Riders back in 2013.

On a chilly winter night, up against a daunting target of 195 runs, Sylhet rode on a fifty from Towhid Hridoy and two forties from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan before Mushfiqur Rahim and Thisara Perera guided them to their second consecutive win the tournament.

Despite losing opener Colin Ackerman early, Hridoy along with Shanto added 101 runs for the second wicket and laid the platform for Sylhet. Shanto was run out after a 40-ball 48 but Hridoy went on to hit a fifty.

Barishal, however, came back by removing Hridoy after he scored an impressive 55 off 34 balls, featuring seven fours and a six, with Sylhet still requiring a further 60 off the last five overs.

But it was Zakir who then stepped up with a blistering cameo of 43 runs off 18 balls, laced with three sixes and four boundaries, to ensure Sylhet were well within touching distance of the target near the end.

Experienced Mushfiqur operated with composure to remain unbeaten on 23 off 11 balls while Perera finished off the chase with a six and was unbeaten on 20 off nine deliveries.

Earlier, Barishal openers Anamul Haque and Chaturanga de Silva provided a flying start, adding 67 runs, before the latter was dismissed on 29 off 21 balls. Chaturanga soon followed suit after a quick-fire 25-ball 36-run knock but it was then Shakib who had lit up the home of cricket as the ace all-rounder rained sixes.

Shakib, however, was lucky as he was dropped twice. He ended up striking four sixes and seven fours on his way to score innings-highest 67 off just 32 balls as Barishsal posted 194 for seven in 20 overs.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza remained the pick of the bowlers with three scalps but the Sylhet captain conceded 48 runs from his four overs.