It’s too late for Sylhet Strikers to get back to the winning ways, as their fourth win from 11 outings is nothing but a great consolation when they have already derailed from the track of moving into the knockout phase before defeating the holders Comilla Victorians by 12 runs on Monday.
Sylhet in fact, ousted from the race to play in the last fours after losing seven matches out of 10 before this win.
On the day, at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadiuum, Chattogram, after winning the toss Sylhet the Strikers decided to bat first and Benny Howell hit another quick fire 62 off 31 balls at the late order, as his side amassed a fighting score of 177 to chase for Victorians.
But the reigning champions Victorian, who turned into an indomitable with winning five matches in a row after losing the fourth match, suffered the defeat to one of the bottom sides Sylhet Strikers.
Sylhet Strikers, after winning four matches increased their tally to eight from 11 matches and one match left to play, if they would win the last match, could only improve their postion on the points table.
However, Strikers made a very impressive start with the opening stand scoring 40 runs by 5.1 overs when Kennar Lewis and Zakir Khan opened the innings.
After the openers Zakir and Lewis getting out, Sylhet looked to be tumbled as the national teams’ captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Yasir Ali backed to the dressing room in a quick succession on 73 and 74 runs, as the team reduced to 74 for 4 in 11 overs.
But the Strikers’ captain Mohammed Mithun and Benny Howell played a perfect supporting performance in a fifth wicket stand of 77 from 42 deliveries, the two more than they did in the proceedings when they delivered an emphatic attitude to their challengers. Mithun scored 28 off 20 balls on his way to escort fierce Benny Howell’s quick-fire 62 off 31 balls.
Howell, who scored 53 off 32 balls in the previous match against fortune Barishal, in his back to back fifty-plus innings hammered four sixes and four boundaries.
Going to chase the challenging total, none but Litton Das could play any responsible innings as Victorians 165 run for six wickets.
Victorians saw an early blow with Samit Patel departing the opening partnership on 16 runs and Tanzim Hasan Sakib made a huge breakthrough with sending back the danger man Towhid Hridoy.
Towhid Hridoy, who played two tremendous unbeaten innings of 108 off 57 balls and 91 off 47 balls, was caught by Ariful Haque when the one down batter was going to attack the bowlers after hitting one four and a six in his tiny 17 off 15 balls.
Litton Das, who fought alone and was watching from one side his partners just was leaving the crease, played his splendid 85 runs innings off 58 balls. Litton’s innings included three sixes and seven fours, those absolutely bossed the exchanges of power-hitting and gap-finding.
The Victorians, after being reduced to 39 for two wickets looked to be fell into trouble, but dashing opener Litton Das appeared with his real character but despite playing the enthusing innings failed to bring the team to winning target lack of perfect support.
But the loss is not concern of Victorians to play in the knockout phase, as they have already on second position with seven wins and two matches remaining to play.