Shakib powers Barishal to top of BPL

Fortune Barishal ascended to the top of the points table with a 14-run win over Chattogram Challengers in the final match of the Chattogram phase of this year’s Bangladesh Premier League on Tuesday.

Barishal skipper Shakib Al Hasan led the charge with both bat and ball, making 50 off 31 deliveries and claiming 3-23 to ensure his team’s third victory in a row at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Despite Shakib’s fifty, Barishal were bundled out for a modest 149 in 19.1 overs with Chattogram pacer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury claiming 4-12 in two overs. But Shakib and Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who finished with remarkable figures of 3-9 in four overs, bundled out Chattogram for 135 in 19.4 overs. Afif Hossain top-scored with 39 off 32 balls while a promoted Shamim Hossain made 29 off 30, but after their departures, the Chattogram innings fell apart. Mehidy Hasan struck a cameo of 26 off 13 late down the order which reduced the margin of defeat. Earlier, Barishal sent in a new opening pair for the third straight game, which lasted just three balls with Munim Shahriar getting out off Shoriful Islam for just one run. His fellow opener Chris Gayle lost his wicket after a promising 25 off 19 and Nazmul Hossain Shanto departed after a stagnant 28 off 29 with Barishal on 75-3 after 10.3 overs. 

Shakib and Towhid Hridoy then added 55 runs off just 33 deliveries for the fourth wicket, to set up an ideal base for a final charge. But that assault never happened as Benny Howell removed Towhid for 22 off 17 balls and in the very next over Mrittunjoy claimed the wicket of Shakib after he scored his maiden fifty in this year’s BPL. Shoriful removed the dangerous Bravo (four off six balls) in the following over and Mrittunjoy took three wickets in four deliveries in the 19th, as Barishal lost their last five wickets for just nine runs. Mujeeb set the stage for Barishal’s defence by bowling a wicket maiden in the first over, removing the destructive Will Jacks for a duck. Afif and Shamim then consolidated the innings with a 70-run stand. But Shakib bowled Afif and pacer Mehedi Hasan Rana removed Shamim to reduce Chattogram to 76-3 in 11.5 overs. Shakib and Mujeeb claimed two more wickets in the next four overs which broke the backbone of Chattogram’s middle-order and made Barishal’s victory just a matter of time.