Barishal open their account after ending Rajshahi's winning streak
Skipper Tamim Iqbal led from the from the front by playing a match-winning knock with the bat after the bowlers restricted Rajshahi to a below par total of 132.
Fortune Barishal have opened their account in the ongoing Bangabandhu T20 Cup and ended the winning streak of Minister Group Rajshahi as the former beat the latter by five wickets in the sixth match of the tournament at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Skipper Tamim Iqbal led from the from the front by playing a match-winning knock with the bat after the bowlers restricted Rajshahi to a below par total of 132.
The start was not ideal as far as Barishal were concerned. Chasing 133, they lost opener Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second over. But Parvez Hossain Emon played a good hand at number three. Before getting out for 23, he added 61 for the second wicket with Tamim in 7.3 overs.
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Towhid Hridoy joined Tamim in the middle and put on 66 for the third wicket where Tamim did bulk of the scoring. Hridoy made a 24-ball-17 before getting out in the 17th over. Wickets kept falling at one end but skipper Tamim remained unbeaten and ensured his team's victory. His sublime knock of unbeaten 77 off 61 was studded with 10 fours and two sixes. Fortune Barishal went past Rajshahi's total with an over to spare.
Mukidul Islam Mugdho was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up a couple giving away 27 runs.
Earlier, Tamim's men put on a good show with the ball. Taskin Ahmed bowled brilliantly with the new ball. Despite not getting wickets up front, the Barishal bowlers kept the runs in check. Both the openers- Najmul Hossain Shanto and Anisul Islam Emon made decent contributions with the bat. But their middle order collapsed yet again with none of Rony Talukdar, Mohammad Ashraful and Nurul Hasan Sohan registering double figures. A 75-run stand between Mahedi Hasan and Fazle Mahmud for the sixth wicket propelled them to a respectable total of 132. Mahedi top-scored with 34 off 23 while Mahmud contributed 31.
Kamrul Islam Rabbi starred with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul conceding only 21. Mehidy Hasan got two wickets and Taskin and Abu Jayed shared two among themselves.
Tamim Iqbal was named player of the match.
Brief scores: Minister Group Rajshahi 132/9 (Mahedi 34, Fazle Mahmud 31, Shanto 24, Rabbi 4/21, Miraz 2/18, Taskin 1/19)
Fortune Barishal 136/5 (Tamim 77*, Parvez Hossain Emon 23, Hridoy 17, Mukidul 2/27, Ebadat 1/19, Mahedi 1/32)
