BPL 2019-20: Match 24, Review- Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s career-best virtually ends Sylhet Thunders' campaign

The Khulna Tigers have won back-to-back games in the BPL 2019-20, beating the Sylhet Thunder by eight wickets. Mushfiqur Rahim and Co are placed third on the points table with a NRR of  +0.750. On the other hand, the Thunder looked hapless at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. In order to qualify for the playoffs, Sylhet have to win their last three games and also hope for other results to go their way.

Thunder put up under-par score

The Tigers elected to field first and managed to restrict the Thunder to 157. Andre Fletcher (37) and Rubel Mia (39) stitched together a 62-run stand off nine overs. Even as the former smacked four fours and a couple of sixes, Mia, the BPL debutant, couldn’t quite get his timing right. Robbie Frylinck separated the duo, getting rid of Fletcher. The pacer also accounted for Johnson Charles’ wicket.

Frylinck went for 58 runs in his four overs. Rubel accelerated a tad later on, but fell prey to Shahidul Islam. In the last few overs, the onus was on Sherfane Rutherford (26) and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat (23) to step on the gas. But both of them strained and their partnership could only fetch 53 runs off 37 balls. For the Tigers, though Mohammad Amir couldn’t get a wicket, he conceded only 17 runs.

Mehidy Miraz blasts the Thunder

The Tigers made a thunderous start to their run-chase. Najmul Hossain Shanto (41) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (87*) scored 66 in the powerplay and put pressure on the opposition. From there on, the game became a one-sided affair. Shanto and Miraz went on to add 115 for the first wicket off a mere 74 balls. Ebadot Hossain picked up Najmul and gave the Thunder something to cheer for.

Mehidy didn’t get a chance to bowl, but batted with precision. He accomplished his second T20 fifty off 31 balls and eventually saw his team through. His knock was laced with nine fours and three hits into the stands. Rilee Rossouw would be disappointed after getting out to Rutherford when the Tigers needed eight runs. In the end, Khulna tracked the target down with 13 balls left in the innings.

Brief Scores

Sylhet Thunder: – 157/4 in 20 overs (Rubel Mia 39, Andre Fletcher 37; Shahidul Islam 2/26)

Khulna Tigers: – 158/2 in 17.5 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 87*, Najmul Hossain Shanto 41; Ebadot Hossain 1/20)

Khulna Tigers win by eight wickets,