Sylhet: Fortune Barishal cruised to a facile seven-wicket win over Durbar Rajshahi, riding on a scintillating knock from captain Tamim Iqbal at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. Tamim hammered a 48-ball 86 not out, studded with 11 fours and three sixes, as Barishal gunned down Rajshahi's 168-4 in just 17.3 overs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, another veteran, Mushfiqur Rahim, was not out on 34 before Tamim sealed the deal with a towering six off left-arm spinner Hasan Murad. Tamim and Mushfiqur shared a 76-run unbeaten fourth-wicket stand as Barishal won its second-leg match against Rajshahi. In the first-leg match in Dhaka, Barishal chased down Rajshahi's 197 for a four-wicket victory.
Opener Pritom Kumar, who replaced Najmul Hossain Shanto at the top of the batting order, was dismissed for just 3, but Tamim continued attacking the Rajshahi bowlers to keep the runs flowing. Kyle Mayers further paced the innings alongside Tamim, but Mohor Sheikh rattled his stump to end his 11-ball 24, which included three fours and two sixes. Towhid Hridoy continued his lean patch by being out on 13. However, Tamim and Mushfiqur denied Rajshahi bowlers any breakthrough as they batted aggressively to secure the side's second victory in three matches.
Mohor Sheikh took two wickets but conceded 32 runs in two overs. Barishal, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi's incredible bowling, restricted Rajshahi to a moderate total after sending them to bat first. Shaheen Afridi snapped up two wickets for just 20 runs in four overs and initially stifled Rajshahi. His spell indeed paved the way for a resounding victory.
Captain Anamul Haque was the top-scorer for Rajshahi with a 35-ball 39, sending the ball across the ropes five times before being dismissed in the penultimate over. Opener Jishan Alam, who was dismissed for a duck in the first two matches, returned to form with a 27-ball 38, featuring three fours and as many sixes. Yasir Ali, who was instrumental in propelling the side past the 150-run mark, made a 23-ball 37.