Barishal hang on to pick up sixth win despite Naim’s 77

Mohammad Naim carried Khulna Tigers' hope till the last over but in the end Fortune Barishal held on to win by seven runs and pick up their sixth win this BPL.

Naim's start was slow and cumbersome but kput on a 59-run stand with Mehedi Miraz, who was looking good on 33 before he was holed out at deep mid-wicket trying to accelerate. Afif Hossain put the wind in Khulna's chase of Barishal's 167 during a 17-ball 27. The Afif-Naim stand added 55 off 27 deliveries and took the game deep.

Afif departed in 18th over, nicking Jahandad Khan behind the stumps to bring some relief to Barishal who were getting increasingly agitated as Khulna drew closer to the target. Rishad Hossain's fantastic pick up and throw then found Mahidul Ankon (1) short of the crease. With 35 needed off the last two overs, Faheem Ashraf conceded just 10, leaving Khulna required 25 runs in the final over.

Naim failed to find the gap at fine-leg with a premediated scoop but he made the game interesting with back-to-back sixes off Ripon Mondol. Dawid Malan, who might have invited the ire of his side with the dropped catch of Afif, made up for his earlier error in the final over. With Khulna needing 13 off three deliveries, Naim found a thick outside-edge which appeared to be flying away for four through third-man, only for Malan to take a catch diving to his right. Naim departed for a 59-ball 77 and Khulna could only reduce the margin of defeat in the last two deliveries. Jahandad was the pick of the Barishal bowlers with two for 20 in four overs.

Earlier, Barishal were in deep trouble early on with the bat.

Tamim Iqbal was out on the first ball he faced and Dawid Malan followed him back to the hut the next delivery. Mehedi Miraz had done the trick early, removing both key top-order batters. Tamim failed to manage the arm delivery and the ball rapped the pads with neither the umpire nor Tamim himself having any hesitation over the decision. Another arm delivery next ball rattled through Malan's defences and castled him. Barishal were 1 for 2 in just three deliveries.

When Mushfiqur Rahim departed in the third over to a run out for five runs, Barishal were in deep trouble. That they recovered from that slump was down to the experience and resilience of Mahmudullah Riyad.

Riyad held the innings together while Tawhid Hridoy, who had come out to open, tried to accelerate. Hridoy hit 36 off 30 before becoming Miraz'a third victim. When Mohammad Nabi fell in the 11th over, Barishal looked like they would bundle out cheaply.

 Mahudullah started pacing himself with back-to-back boundaries off Miraz and completed a 45-ball 50 before being holed out at long-on off Ziaur Rahman's bowling. Barishal appeared to be failing to get a competitive score until Rishad's exciting 19-ball 39 and Tanvir Islam (12 off 4) and Jahandad Khan's (10 off 5) contributions helped Barishal to 167 for 9.