Right then, that is it from this game where Fortune Barishal extends their winning streak to five while Khulna Tigers need to come back stronger in the remaining two matches. Next up in the Bangladesh Premier League 2024/25 is a clash between Durbar Rajshahi and Sylhet Strikers which will start in a short while. You can just switch tabs to enjoy all the build-up to that encounter. Cheers!

Tamim Iqbal, the victorious skipper of Fortune Barishal says that at the break he told his bowlers that the opposition are 10-15 runs short. Adds that the wicket was not easy to bat but Rishad Hossain's four overs were crucial but overall they could have done better. Mentions that the chat between him and Malan was to keep things simple as Malan was taking on the bowlers and he was holding one end. Says that they did not allow the Tigers to bring in the left-arm spinners while they were batting, and later on when they came, it was spinning, so it was important for the two of them to take the game as deep as possible. Ends by saying that there are still two games left in the ground stage, and they will be looking to win them to take the momentum into the playoffs.

Dawid Malan is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fantastic knock. He says that they didn’t talk that much about the target and they knew that if they got past 50 in the powerplay, they could win it. Adds that the wicket of Mirpur gets sticky a bit and they were lucky to restrict the Tigers to that score. Mentions that he is enjoying his batting a lot and he likes to play in Bangladesh, he has also completed his 1000 runs in BPL and ends by saying he would like to add a 1000 more before he gets too old.

Mehidy Hasan, the captain of Khulna Tigers says that 180 was a capable score on this kind of wicket, but he is more worried about the bowlers. Mentions that his toe is still hurting a bit, but he can make do with it. Further mentions that they could have added probably 10 more runs because they played really well at the start and guys like Naim Shaikh contributed really well in the beginning. Adds that it is the bowling partnership that is to be considered and has lots of problems to discuss in the future. Concludes by saying that they will look to improve a lot more in the next game.

Presentation Time...

Khulna Tigers will rue their lackluster bowling and sloppy fielding, which let crucial chances slip away. Abu Hider’s early strike and contributions from Salman Irshad and Nasum Ahmed weren’t enough to turn the tide. Despite Irshad’s injury, his dramatic over with two quick wickets (One run out and one wicket from Hider who stepped in to complete the over) gave them a glimmer of hope, but the damage was already done as they fell short of defending their total. A tough day for the Tigers!

Earlier in the game, Khulna Tigers posted a competitive total, powered by Mohammad Naim’s explosive fifty and a fiery cameo from Mahidul Islam Ankon at the death along with small contributions from others. They looked set to cross 200 but stumbled in the middle overs, falling 15-20 runs short. Faheem Ashraf led Fortune Barishal’s bowling charge with two crucial wickets, while others chipped in to keep the Tigers in check.

Fortune Barishal overcame early jitters with Dawid Malan’s classy half-century and Tamim Iqbal’s steady support, adding 91 runs to set a solid platform. A sudden collapse saw both of them fall, but Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah took things forward nicely until that mix-up, which cost the latter his wicket with Rahim getting out on the very next ball, sparking drama. But Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nabi held their nerve, smashing crucial blows to seal a thrilling win with five balls to spare!

FORTUNE BARISHAL ON FIRE! With five wins in a row and looking unstoppable, they’ve proven why they’re one of the teams to beat this season, climbing level on points with the table-toppers! Meanwhile, the Khulna Tigers are hanging by a thread, now needing back-to-back wins to keep their playoff hopes alive. The stakes just got higher, and the drama is far from over!

Mohammad Nabi comes out to the middle now.

Salman Irshad is struggling a bit with his groin and the physio is in to check on him. Also, Faheem Ashraf walks out to bat now. It is not looking good for Irshad here. He tried to bowl with the groin injury but he is not able to even walk properly. Abu Hider to complete the over.

Strategic Break! The stage is set for the last four overs with the Fortune Barishal needing 37 runs of the last 24 balls. They have two set, experienced batters in the form of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, who will look to finish it off themselves and not leave it to anybody else in the end. Whereas, the Khulna Tigers will need to stretch this as much as they can towards the last over and possibly the last ball if they want to get anywhere close to victory. Will the Khulna Tigers be able to pull this off or will it be a walk in the park for the Fortune Barishal, only time will tell.