Shakib special helps Fortune Barishal overcome Khulna Tigers

Fortune Barishal prevailed by six runs despite Khulna Tigers' late onslaught, beating them twice in the space of three days. Dwayne Bravo defended 21 runs in the last over with substitute Jake Lintott's marvelous juggling catch at long-on capping off the fine win.

Khulna never recovered from their poor Powerplay when Andre Fletcher and Soumya Sarkar stuttered around to add just 22 runs. Both had their strike-rates in the fifties, and with Khulna losing four wickets in the next four overs, they fell too far behind in a chase of 146. Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali added 79 runs for the fifth wicket, but they were left to do too much in the second half of their innings.

The win gives Barishal six points from five games while Khulna remain on four points from as many outings.

Barishal bowled smartly to defend their modest total, particularly Shakib Al Hasan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Both spinners changed their pace and used subtle variations to concede just 23 runs in their combined eight overs. This allowed Bravo to dominate an already under-pressure batting line-up. Both he and his captain took two wickets each in the first ten overs.

Shakib (41 off 27) was in the forefront when Khulna batted too. Alongside Najmul Hossain Shanto, he rescued Barishal from 24 for 3, by adding 79 runs for the fourth wicket. He hit three sixes, one of which was a brilliant carve over wide long-off, while another was a dropped catch that burst through the fielder's hands. Shanto's 40-ball 45 was a much better innings than his two previous knocks. He struck both his sixes over long-on, and all three fours came on the off-side.

Khulna's Khaled Ahmed finished with 3 for 41, including the wickets of Bravo and Chris Gayle, the two T20 legends opening the batting for the first time.

With the bat, Yasir and Mushfiqur were the only ones who stood up for Khulna. With 70 needed in the last five overs, Yasir struck Bravo for a four and a six in the 16th over. Mushfiqur scooped Mehedi Hasan Rana for a six, having been caught behind trying the same shot off the same bowler in the previous game.

But Mushfiqur fell in the penultimate over, at deep square leg where Towhid Hridoy took a fine catch, before Seekkuge Prasanna holed out in the deep in the final over. Lintott's catch was initially given a soft signal of not out because he was seen juggling it about five times but replays confirmed that despite all that he remained in control of the ball.

Khulna had themselves to blame with their top-order batting and fielding. During the post-match presentation, Mushfiqur pointed at their top-order for not scoring quickly enough. They also dropped a couple of catches. Both beneficiaries Shakib and Shanto went on to make significant contributions.

Shakib was dropped on 9 when the deep square leg fielder allowed the ball to burst through his hands. In the 14th over, the sweeper cover fielder made the same mistake, running in hard and letting the ball burst through his hands. Shanto was on 36 at the time.