To qualify for the play-off phase, the Khulna Tigers had only one way open— to beat Comilla Victorians in their last league match, and they did in style riding on the outstanding batting efforts of Andre Fletcher and Mahedi Hasan on Saturday in Mirpur.
With this win, Khulna marched to the play-off of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League as the fourth team after Fortune Barishal, Comilla, and Chattogram Challengers.
And Khulna’s win ensured that Minister Group Dhaka is now eliminated from the race of the last four with nine points.
Victorians set a target of 183, and Khulna chased it down with nine wickets in hand— their joint-biggest win in this season of BPL.
In the opening stand, Fletcher and Maheid added 182 runs. With just one run needed to win, Mahedi was removed by Moeen Ali. Soumya Sarkar came in at three and scored the winning run.
Fletcher remained unbeaten for 101 off 62 balls with six fours and six sixes while Mahedi scored 74 off 49 balls with six fours and four sixes.
Earlier, Victorians batted first and posted challenging 182 runs for five wickets in 20 overs. Faf du Plessis, who had been struggling for a while, hit a ton. He ended up on 101 for 54 with 12 fours and three sixes.
Apart from him, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mahidul Islam Ankon scored 31 and 20 runs respectively.
For Khulna, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mahedi and Farhad Reza bag one wicket each.
Chattogram will take on Khulna in the Eliminator match on February 14 while on the same day, Fortune Barishal and Comilla Victorians will play each other in the first Qualifier.
The winner of the Eliminator and loser of the first Qualifier will play each other in the second Qualifier on February 16. And the winners of the two Qualifiers will lock horns in the final of this year’s BPL on February 18. All of these matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Source: United News of Bangladesh