Will Jacks unbeaten 92 powers Chattogram into playoffs

Will Jacks smashed an unbeaten match-winning ninety to help Chattogram Challengers to qualify for the playoffs as they beat Sylhet Sunrisers by four wickets in the day game of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Chasing a competitive 186-run target set by Sylhet, Jacks remained unbeaten on 92 off just 57 balls, a knock that featured four maximums and five fours, as Chattogram reached the target with five balls to spare. 

With five wins in ten matches, Chattogram finished the group stage with ten points and became the third team after Fortune Barishal and Comilla Victorians to qualify for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Minister Dhaka, with nine points from all their 10 group stage encounters, now would have to wait for the result of the final group stage game between Khulna Tigers and Comilla later tonight in Mirpur. If Khulna win the game, they will qualify for the eliminators but if the result goes Comilla’s way then Dhaka will qualify and face Chattogram in the eliminator. 

Chasing a big target, Chattogram lost Zakir Hasan and skipper Afif Hossain early to Sohag Gazi. However, Jacks held on for Chattogram, reaching fifty off 35 balls to help Chattogram stay on course for victory. He then paired with Chadwick Walton and added 69 runs for the third wicket. 

Walton provided good support to Jacks but was made run out in the 12th over after a 23-ball 35, laced with three fours and two maximums.

Shamim Hossain then smashed a quick-fire seven-ball 21 but it was Jacks who made sure Chattogram qualify for the top four as he stayed till the end and also finished the chase in style by smashing Alauddin Babu for a six in the final over. 

Earlier, it was a collective batting effort that helped Sylhet to post a fighting 185 for six after being asked to bat.

With nothing to lose since being already out of the top four race, Sylhet displayed a positive approach as both the openers Collin Ingram and Anamul Haque looked to score quick runs right from the start. 

Chattogram, however, made a good comeback as Mehedi Hasan Miraz removed Ingram after the batter had scored 24 off 19 balls while left-arm seamer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury picked up Mizanur Rahman for naught as Sylhet were 46 for two after the Powerplay.

It was then Lendl Simmons, who went all guns blazing as he struck back-to-back sixes to pacer Shoriful Islam, scoring 15 runs in the eleventh over. Anamul, meanwhile, remained calm as Simmons charged the Chattogram bowlers. The pair added 54 runs for the third wicket.

But Mrittunjoy brought Chattogram back in the game, removing both the set batters in the same over. First, he removed Simmons, who accounted for a quick-fire 27-ball 42 that featured two sixes and five fours. The 20-year-old pacer then dismissed Anamul just a couple of balls later as he beat the right-hander’s defense to end his 26-ball 32-run knock. 

But a late launch from skipper Ravi Bopara and Mosaddek Hossain, with the pair adding a crucial 80-run stand for the fifth wicket, eventually saw Sylhet finish with a commendable total.

Bopara was the aggressor among the two, smashing two fours and four maximums before being dismissed on 44 off just 21 balls. 

Mosaddek also came up with some lusty blows in the end and was not out on 35 off 22 balls, striking two sixes and three fours, as Sylhet added 49 runs in the last three overs of the innings.