Chattogram ensure playoff spot with easy win over Khulna

Chattogram Challengers have ensured reaching the playoffs as the first team with an easy win over Khulna Tigers in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20. 

Chattogram now have 14 points from their 10 games, which means that a playoff spot is surely theirs.  

Chattogram had Imrul Kayes back as their skipper and winning the toss, he decided to bowl first on a pitch which looked tricky to bat on. And his decision looked like a perfect one as his bowlers managed to nick three wickets within the fourth over and restricted Khulna to only 121. 

Chasing 122, Chattogram were off to a great start as Lendl Simmons and Junaid Siddique notched up 42 runs in the powerplay. Their stand lasted till the 11th over accumulating 69 before Allis Al Islam took a wonderful catch to dismiss Simmons for 36. 

Simmons' opening partner Junaid followed in the next over in a similar fashion as he gave a simple catch to bowler Mehidy Hasan to get dismissed on 38. 

The pitch revealed it's tricky nature again as Robbie Frylinck's cutter went through Asela Gunaratne's defence to send the Sri Lankan back for a duck in his debut in this season's BPL. 

Despite losing Chadwick Walton, Imrul Kayes and Nurul Hasan Sohan took Chattogram to victory with six wickets and 11 balls in hand. Imrul was unbeaten on 30 and Sohan on 6. 

Earlier, batting first, Khulna were in immediate trouble as they lost three wickets within the first four overs. Mahedi Hasan Rana struck twice in the third over to send Mehidy Hasan and Hashim Amla, who was playing his first-ever BPL game, back before Rubel Hossain got rid of Shamsur Rahman in the next over. 

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim put up a 49-run stand with Rilee Rossouw to steady Khulna's ship before Ziaur Rahman cluttered Mushfiq's stumps to send back for 29. 

Rossouw and Robbie Frylinck's stand looked to take Khulna to a score which would be tough to chase down on a tough pitch, but Rossouw's dismissal started a procession of wickets as Khulna lost their last six wickets for only 17 runs, getting bundled out for only 121. Kesrick Williams bowled Rossouw for a well-made 48 before dismissing Aamer Yamin in the very next delivery. Rubel struck in the next over to send Alauddin Babu back before Rana dismissed Frylinck. It was all wrapped up in the last over by Rubel as he bowled Tanvir Islam before Aliss Al Islam getting run out. 

Rubel and Rana picked up three wickets with Williams picking up a couple.