Unbeaten Khulna Suffer First Defeat in BPL

Khulna Tigers’ unbeaten run in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 ended on Saturday as they suffered their first defeat to Fortune Barishal by 5-wicket in their thrilling match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Barishal’s Pakistani star Shoaib Malik displayed a brilliant all-round performance as the veteran claimed 2-24 to restrict Khulna at 155-8 in their stipulated 20 over before scoring an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls to help Barishal at 156-5 within 19.4 overs.

Electing to bowl first, Barishal bowlers rocked Khulna’s in-form batting order and reduced them to 88-7 in the 16th over.

Khulna’s two Pakistan recruits Mohammad Nawaz (38 off 23 balls not out) and Ashraf (32 off 13 balls) showcased a great fight back as they shared 67 runs off just 24 balls to give Khulna post a challenging score.

Barishal’s Malik and Taijul took two wickets each.

Chasing the target, Barishal were left struggling at 101-5 in the 16th over after Khulna’s Faheem Ashraf took three wickets which included Tamim Iqbal (20), Soumya Sarkar (26) and Mahmudullah (four).

Mehidy Hasan Miraz then struck a late cameo off 31 off 15 balls and also shared 55 runs off just 23 balls with Malik to end Khulna’s four-match winning streak.

When Barishal required 37 runs in the last two overs, Miraz hit two sixes off Mohammad Wasim Jnr’s penultimate over to make the equation 18 in the last over.

Miraz then hit Dasun Shanaka a six in the final over while Malik hit a four and a six to confirm Barishal’s dramatic win with two balls to spare.