That concludes the proceedings for this match. Fortune Barishal have become the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season. Another set of a double-header awaits us as on Wednesday, 9th February, Khulna Tigers will face Minister Group Dhaka at 12 pm IST (6.30 am GMT) and Comilla Victorians will lock horns with Sylhet Sunrisers at 5 pm IST (11.30 am GMT). Do join us in advance for all the coverage. Cheers!
Shakib Al Hasan, the skipper of Fortune Barishal, is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Says that Chris Gayle and Munim Shahriar batted really well. Adds that for someone like Gayle batting through the innings is quite commendable. States that with the dew around, defending was also going to be difficult so they kept their patience. Feels that they are peaking at the right time and he is happy with where his team stands at the moment.
Ravi Bopara, the skipper of Sylhet Sunrisers, says that chasing 200 is always difficult. Mentions that they had a good start and till the 12th over, they were probably the favorites but the quality of the bowlers of Fortune Barishal was too much for them. Mentions that someone like Colin Ingram is more suited to bat at the top of the order than in the middle order. Adds that the lower order also did well and they probably conceded 15-20 runs too many.
Presentation time...
A near clinical show from Fortune Barishal. Munim Shahriar set the stage on fire with his attractive batting and then the likes of Chris Gayle, Shakib Al Hasan and Dwayne Bravo extended his good work forward. The bowling from Fortune Barishal, given the dew factor, was also decent. Shakib Al Hasan was the standout performer - picking up two wickets for just 23 runs in his four overs. He was impressive with his captaincy also and his punt on Najmul Hossain Shanto's part-time bowling paid off as Shanto picked up the prized scalp of Colin Ingram and hunted down one more wicket in the same over. That broke the back of Sylhet Sunrisers' chase and Fortune Barishal closed the game with some smart bowling at the death.
A spirited fight from Sylhet Sunrisers but they ended on the wrong side of the result and are knocked out. It was a daunting task to overhaul a target of 200 and needed more than one batsman to put on a show. Colin Ingram, promoted to open the batting in the absence of Lendl Simmons, showed attacking instincts right from the word go and made his intentions very clear. He though was the only one to find the boundaries consistently as the rest struggled to do the same. His departure with 69 needed off 31 balls was too big a task and despite some late hitting from Alauddin Babu and Mosaddek Hossain, the Sunrisers fell short by 12 runs and the sun has set on their campaign.
In over# 20
4
1
0W
4
0
1
1wd
Dwayne Bravo 42/2(4)
19.6
4
FOUR! Short and on the body. Alauddin Babu pulls it behind square leg and finds the fence. That doesn't matter though as Fortune Barishal win by 12 runs!
19.5
1
On a length, around off. Aks Swadhin miscues the heave high in the air. The ball lands short of deep mid-wicket though. Single.
Aks Swadhin walks in next with only formalities left in this match.
19.4
W
OUT! BOWLED! Bravo's magic is here! Slower ball, on a length, on off. Mosaddek Hossain looks to heave it away but is days early into his stroke. The ball goes and hits the off pole. DJ brings out his dancing moves. What a champion bowler!
19.3
4
FOUR! Nicely done! Shorter and outside off. Mosaddek Hossain waits for it and then guides it past point for a boundary. 18 from 3. Mosaddek Hossain needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
19.2
.
Very full and wide outside off. Mosaddek Hossain misses the drive.
19.1
1
Bowled! A perfect yorker, on off. Alauddin Babu digs it out to covers for one.
19.1
1wd
Wide! This is way down the leg side. Alauddin Babu leaves it. Wide called.
Dwayne Bravo is entrusted to bowl the final over. 24 needed off 6 balls. Can Sylhet Sunrisers pull off a heist?
In over# 19
4
4
1
0
1
1
Ziaur Rahman 26/0(3)
18.6
4
FOUR! A boundary and the game is probably still alive! 24 needed from the final over! Length ball, around off. Mosaddek Hossain shuffles across and then flicks it past short fine leg for a boundary.
18.5
4
FOUR! A boundary now. Length ball, outside off. Mosaddek Hossain runs it down to third man. The man in the deep runs to his left and slides but cannot stop it.