Ankon, bowlers help Khulna Tigers get comfortable win against Chittagong Kings

In the first match of the second day in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the Khulna Tigers defeated Chittagong Kings by 37 runs.

Khulna, batting first, amassed a total of 203 runs.

Despite an outstanding innings of 78 runs off 38 balls by Shamim Hossain, Chittagong was restricted to 166 runs in their response.

Khulna won the toss and elected to bat. They got off to a good start thanks to Naim Sheikh, who contributed 26 runs off 17 balls.

The opening partnership yielded 37 runs. The other opener, William Bosisto, continued steadily.

However, the middle-order batsmen couldn't shine as brightly.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 18 off 18, Ibrahim Zadran managed 6 off 7, and Afif Hossain Dhrubo was out for 8 off 7, leaving Khulna at 117/4, under some pressure.

Then, entering at number six, Mahidul Islam Ankon unleashed a furious batting display alongside Bosisto, punishing Chittagong's bowlers.

Their effective partnership propelled Khulna's innings forward, both players reaching their fifties.

The onslaught continued even after their fifties, leading Khulna past 200.

At the end of their 20 overs, Khulna had scored 203 for 4, with Bosisto unbeaten at 75 off 50 balls and Ankon making a tornado-like 59 off just 22 balls, their partnership contributing 86 runs off only 34 balls.

For Chittagong, Khaled Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain each took two wickets.

Chasing, Chittagong Kings started with Naim Islam and Parvez Hossain Emon.

However, Oshane Thomas's first over was marred by wides and no-balls, including 4 no-balls and 2 wides, yet he managed to dismiss Naim, who scored 12 off 9 balls.

Chittagong managed 18 runs in that over.

Emon started well but couldn't extend his innings, getting out for 13 off 8 when the team score was 31.

Usman Khan followed with 18 off 15, but captain Mohammad Mithun was dismissed earlier for 6 off 7.

At the end of the powerplay, Chittagong was 56/4 after losing their top four batsmen.

Post-powerplay, Chittagong lost two more wickets in two balls, with Haider Ali and Tom O'Connell out to Mohammad Nawaz, effectively sealing the match at 56/6.

Despite the loss of wickets, Shamim Hossain stood firm.

His aggressive batting reduced the margin of defeat with a series of boundaries.

However, his teammates couldn't support him adequately to clinch the match.

Shamim reached his fifty and was on course for a hundred, but he was dismissed for 78 off 38 balls when Chittagong was at 152.

Towards the end, Khaled Ahmed hit two sixes off 4 balls to score 14 runs, but Chittagong could only manage to reach 166 after 18.5 overs.

Abu Hider Rony was the pick of the bowlers for Khulna, taking four wickets.