Reigning champions Fortune Barishal became the second team to qualify for the playoffs in the Bangladesh Premier League following an eight-wicket win against Sylhet Strikers in their ninth match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Barishal bowlers, led by Faheem Ashraf, set up the easy victory as the Pakistani all-rounder claimed 5-7 to dismiss Sylhet for 116 in 18.1 overs after Sylhet had elected to bat first.

With this feat, Fahim became the second bowler after Durbar Rajshahi's Taskin Ahmed (7-19) to take a five-for in this year's BPL. Barishal's foreign recruits Mohammad Nabi and James Fuller also chipped in with two wickets each.

Only Ahsan Bhatti (28) and Jaker Ali (24) made notable contributions in the Sylhet innings.

Barishal, in reply, lost Towhid Hridoy (six) and Dawid Malan (nine) within the Powerplay but an unbeaten partnership of 81 runs between Tamim Iqbal (52 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (42 not out) for the third wicket guided them to victory line with 24 balls to spare.

The defeat all but confirmed Sylhet's early elimination from the tournament as they remain at the bottom of the points table with two wins from 10 matches.