Fletcher powers Khulna to 9-wicket victory against Sylhet
Sports Correspondent: Dhaka, Feb-03,
Andre Fletcher hammered a scintillating 47-ball 71 not out as Khulna Tigers recorded a nine-wicket victory against Sylhet Sunrisers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here.
The victory gave Khulna a renewed confidence to confirm playoffs, while Sylhet continued to languish at the bottom table, losing their fourth game in five matches.
Sylhet racked up a moderate 142-5 after being put in to bat first. Khulna however made it a cake-walk, thanks to Fletcher’s firepower as they raced to the victory, making 144-1 with 34 balls remaining.
Fletcher and his fellow opener Soumya Sarkar however made the game a one-sided one, putting on 99-run off just 65 balls for their opening stand. Khulna was on a course of an all-wicket victory, especially the way the duo were batting in a pitch where Sylhet batters found it tough to rotate the scoreboard.
However, that was not to be as Soumya top-edged one to short fine leg off left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Opu. Soumya by then struck six fours and one six for his 43 off 31.
Thisara Perera came to batting at a one-down position to accompany Fletcher who continued milking runs, treating Sylhet bowlers in disdain. Fletcher eventually clobbered five fours and as many sixes for his 47 ball-71 not out. Thisara Perera who brought up the victory with a consecutive four and six off Nazmul Islam Opu’s bowling remained not out on 22 off just nine balls. He hit three fours and one six in his brutal knock.
Sylhet’s innings were one man show of Mohammad Mithun, who played against the tide to blast a 51 ball-72, that studded with six fours and four sixes. He was ably supported by captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, who scored 34 off 30 with three fours and two sixes. Together they added 68-run for the fourth-wicket stand after Sylhet was reduced to 34-3.
Fast bowler Khaled Ahmed broke the partnership, dismissing Mosaddek, and soon after that, Soumya got the prized scalp of Mithun. The dismissal of the duo in quick succession effectively denied Sylhet to go past the 150-run mark.
Khaled bowled terrifically to end with 2-20 from four overs while Nabil Samad, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, and Soumya Sarkar took one wicket apiece.
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