Barishal in Qualifier 2 after Mayers, Tamim knock Chattogram out

Kyle Mayers is what Bangladesh cricket fraternity thought Soumya Sarkar would become - scoring quickfire runs with the bat and taking important wickets with the ball, most importantly, making his performance talk when it matters. His famous (or infamous, one would say) double hundred in the Chattogram Test back in 2021 is much talked about and even he was given the jersey number 210 by Fortune Barishal, his score in that match-winning innings. 

The man from Barbados has been on fire since coming to play for Barishal. His handy all-round performance in the latter phase of group stage helped the team reach the playoffs. 

In his first match in the campaign, Mayers scored 48 from 31 balls and also bowled brilliantly and took 3-12 in his four overs followed by a 46 with the bat and two for 31 with the ball in the next match which all but sealed Barishal's place in the playoffs. 

But he kept his best for the knockout stage. His brilliant two-for laid the foundation for Barishal against Chattogram Challengers in the Eliminator earlier on Monday. But it was his blistering batting which eventually stole the show and took Barishal to the second qualifier.

Soumya opened the innings with skipper Tamim Iqbal in Barishal's chase of 136 runs. But Soumya didn't do justice as he was dismissed for a duck and it brought Mayers to the crease in the very first over. 

He blasted a 26-ball fifty hitting three boundaries and five maximums including a 26-run over off Shuvagata Hom where Mayers hit three sixes and two boundaries. He departed soon after reaching his fifty but the damage was already done with Barishal needing 36 runs from the remaining 11.4 overs.

Barishal eventually won the match by seven wickets keeping 5.1 overs in hand.

Mayers was accompanied well by the skipper Tamim who anchored the chase, as he does, and took his team over the victory line. Tamim remained unbeaten on 52 from 43 balls hitting nine boundaries in his innings. 

Barishal's newcomer David Miller didn't force the issue, hitting 17 off 13 balls before falling for a simple catch to deep midwicket. Mushfiqur Rahim was there with Tamim to complete the chase.

Chattogram earlier had banked heavily on their in-form opener Tanzid Hasan. But he fell in the second over. Saifuddin got the big wicket when he had the left-hander caught behind. Tanzid's opening partner Josh Brown briefly attacked, hitting three sixes and two fours, before holing out at point to Miller. Brown made 34 off 22 balls.

Shuvagata's 24 off 16 balls took Chattogram past the 100 mark, as the Barishal bowlers grabbed the game firmly for the rest of the innings. Mayers, Saifuddin and Obed McCoy took two wickets each while Taijul Islam and James Fuller picked up one wicket respectively.