In the quest to book a berth at the playoffs of Bangabandhu Cup T20, Fortune Barishal posted a mammoth total of 193/3 against Beximco Dhaka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. Till filing of this report at 8 pm, Dhaka scored 52/0 in 6 overs.
If Barishal have beat Dhaka then they comfortably qualified for the playoffs. However, if Dhaka won the match within 18.4 overs, than Barishal will be eliminated and Minister Group Rajshahi will qualify for net run rate. However, if Dhaka won but the match continued even after 18.4 overs than Barishal will still qualify even if they are beaten. This is because of the net run rate.
After being sent to bat first, Tamim Iqbal-led Barishal batsmen were on fire from the very beginning. They were hitting the Dhaka bowlers all around the ground and made them a mere spectator. Openers Tamim Iqbal and Saif Hassan laid the foundation with a 59-run opening stand in 7.2 overs. Skipper Tamim then departed after scoring 17-ball 19. He was dismissed by pacer Al Amin.
Saif however, continued his exquisite batting along with last match’s centurion Parvez Hosssain Emon. Emon however, could not replicate even half of what he achieved in his previous match and was removed by Muktar Ali, leaving Barishal at 82/2 after 10.5 overs.
Saif then picked up his half century before he was removed by Rubel Hossain. He played 43-ball 50, which comprised of 8 boundaries. Then two new batsman Afif Hossain and Towhid Hridoy came on the pitch. The two youngsters then took the Dhaka bowlers apart with their relentless hitting of boundaries and maximums.
Together the pair enjoyed a 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket stand in just 38 deliveries. Their batting onslaught were too much too handle for the Dhaka bowlers. They both remained unbeaten and propelled their team to 193. Afif played a quick-fire 25-ball 50 and Towhid’s innings was fierier as he scored 22 ball 51. Afif’s innings comprised of 5 maximums and 1 boundary, whereas Towhid’s innings included 2 boundaries and 4 maximums.