Will Jacks 92 powers Chattogram into BPL playoffs

Will Jacks powered Chattogram Challengers to the BPL playoffs, getting the winning runs with a six over wide long-on in the final over against Sylhet Sunrisers. Chattogram won by four wickets, leaving the last playoffs place to be decided after the last game of the league phase between Khulna Tigers and Comilla Victorians.

The 23-year old Jacks, who made an unbeaten 92 off 57 balls, not only dominated the Sylhet bowling attack but ensured that he put together important partnerships and stayed till the end of the steep 186-run chase.

Jacks' main partnership was with Chadwick Walton: 69 for the third wicket. He added 35 runs for the fourth wicket with Benny Howell, and another 28 with Shamim Hossain to get Sylhet within touching distance.

Sylhet finish their BPL campaign with only one win, with their only other point coming from an abandoned game. As they have done for most of the tournament, they couldn't defend a big total.

Big hit
Sylhet captain Ravi Bopara made his highest score in this season's BPL, top-scoring with 44 off 21 balls, including two sixes over long-on, one over midwicket and one flicked over long leg. He added 80 runs for the fifth wicket with Mosaddek Hossain. Earlier, Lendl Simmons made 42, his first significant contribution since his century against Minister Group Dhaka.

Mrittunjoy Chowdhury continued to shine with the ball for Chattogram, picking up three wickets. He removed Mizanur Rahman, Simmons and Anamul Haque as Sylhet were reduced to 102 for four in the 13th over.

Jacks hardly let Sylhet off the hook in the chase, helping Chattogram add 60 runs in the powerplay. He struck three of his sixes over the leg side during this period, and then kept finding the gaps for his eight fours. Jacks was proficient all around the dial, whether down the ground, through the covers or with his bunts into the leg side, and he also struck three fours through backward point. His fourth six was the winning hit.

Big miss
Sylhet's Mizanur Rahman would rue missing out on whatever little opportunities he got during this season's BPL, after he got out for his second duck in as many innings this season. Mizanur was the highest scorer in the Dhaka Premier League in 2021 with 418 runs at an average of 52.25. His BPL record isn't too good, though, and this has probably stopped the national selectors from considering him for the senior side.