Mohammad Mithun hit his first half-century in the season as Dhaka Dominators stunned Fortune Barishal by five wickets for their only third victory in 10th game of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Tuesday.
A mediocre batting performance indeed scripted Barishal's first defeat to any side in this BPL other than table topper Sylhet Strikers. They were restricted to 156-8, a score that proved insufficient as Dhaka overhauled the target with seven balls to spare.
Mithun was instrumental behind the victor, smashing a 36 ball-54 that included six fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener Soumya Sarkar paved the platform of the stunning victory with 74-run partnership in which Soumya's contribution was 37 off 22, a score studded with four fours and two sixes.
Abdullah Al Mamun scored 26 while captain Nasir Hossain was unbeaten on 20, taking the side home without much fuss.
Shakib Al Hasan was the most successful bowler for Barishal with 2-18 but he remained off colour with willow, as he scored 5. After starting BPL with bang, Shakib however has been going through a lean batting patch for the last three matches.
Anamul Haque Bijoy made team high 42 off 35 with five fours and one six and senior batter Mahmudullah Riyad finally scored some runs, hitting 27 ball-39 with four fours and two sixes. However the middle order failed to click when it mattered most.
Apart from Shakib, Ibrahim Zadran also fell to single digit figure while inform Iftikhar Ahmed was able to score just 10. The trio's failure in the middle order prevented Shakib's team from posting a respectable total on the board.
Nonetheless it was Mahmudullah who helped them propel past 150 runs mark finally but that was not enough on a good batting pitch.
Amir Hamza claimed 2-22 to play a key role in stifling Barishal at the halfway mark of the innings.
Despite the defeat, Barishal retained their second spot with 12 points from nine matches while Dhaka moved up to fifth position with six points from 10 matches.
Source: BSS