Barishal’s batting brilliance condemns Sylhet to hat-trick of losses
This win takes Barishal to second place on the points table with 6 points from four matches, behind leaders Rangpur Riders, who have 10 points from five games.
Fortune Barishal eased to a dominant 7-wicket victory over Sylhet Strikers at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on 7 January, chasing down a modest target of 126 with 57 balls to spare.
The defeat marked Sylhet's third consecutive loss in this season, leaving the home side still searching for their first win.
Batting first after losing the toss, Sylhet collapsed to 125 all out in 18.2 overs. Their innings began disastrously when opener Rony Talukdar was dismissed without scoring, and Rahkeem Cornwall, playing his first match of the season, failed to capitalise on a promising start, falling for 18 off 12 balls.
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George Munsey's quick-fire 28 off 13 deliveries and Zakir Hasan's 25 brought some stability, but the middle and lower order crumbled under pressure.
At 89/8, Sylhet seemed set for an embarrassing total, but captain Ariful Haque's unbeaten 36 off 29 balls, including three sixes, lifted them past the 100-run mark.
Barishal's bowlers delivered a clinical performance, with leg-spinner Rishad Hossain leading the charge, taking 3 wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs. Jahandad Khan also impressed, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs in 3 overs.
In reply, Barishal stumbled early, losing Tamim Iqbal for a golden duck and Najmul Hossain Shanto for just 4 runs, leaving them reeling at 6/2. Cornwall struck in his first over to remove Tamim, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed Shanto's wicket.
However, Kyle Mayers and Towhid Hridoy steadied the innings with a blistering 116-run partnership. Mayers remained unbeaten on 59 off 31 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes.
Hridoy fell just short of his fifty, bowled by Sakib for 48 off 27 deliveries, an innings studded with eight fours and two sixes. Barishal cruised to victory in just 10.3 overs, underlining their dominance.
This win takes Barishal to second place on the points table with 6 points from four matches, behind leaders Rangpur Riders, who have 10 points from five games. Meanwhile, Sylhet remain at the bottom, with three losses in as many matches.
