Barishal crash out despite Afif’s 55

In the end, even Afif Hossain's incredible 55-run knock was not enough as Fortune Barishal crashed out of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup following their nine-run run loss against Beximco Dhaka in the Eliminator match today.

Chasing 151 for victory, Barishal struggled to get going from the off. Saif Hassan got an inside edge that crashed onto his stumps off the bowling of Shafiqul Islam. Parvez Hossain Emon also found it difficult during his 11-ball 2 and was bowled trying to break the shackles against Robiul Islam.

Tamim too capitulated while the asking rate was climbing. The left-hander had to contend with spinners early on in the innings and when Muktar Ali came to the attack, he failed to clear the square-leg boundary and was caught after a 28-ball 22.

Only Afif was able to keep ticking the runs and after Tamim's wicket, he accelerated, showing his stroke-making abilities to good effect.

Afif's knock nearly got Beximco captain Mushfiqur's temper off the rails as he twice laid it on Nasum Ahmed for errors on the field. Then Towhid Hridoy chopped an Al Amin delivery onto his stumps before Shorawordi Shuvo fell next delivery in Amin's last delivery.

Quickly running out of partners, Afif fell after a valiant 35-ball 55, laced with three fours and four sixes, while trying to pick off a Shafiqul delivery through fine-leg.

With 20 runs needed off the last over, Barishal lost two more wickets and fell 10 runs short of the target to crash out of the tournament. Dhaka will play the second Qualifier tomorrow against the losing side in the game between Khulna and Chattogram in the evening game today.

Earlier, Yasir Ali's 51 helped Beximco Dhaka post 150 for eight against Fortune Barishal in the Eliminator match of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup today.

Dhaka were in early trouble losing the key wickets of opener Mohammad Naim and number three Al Amin within three overs. Mehedi Miraz induced a top-edge from Naim in the last delivery of the second over after troubling the batsman earlier in the over. Taskin Ahmed then removed Al Amin as he got the ball to shape away just a bit and got the edge of the bat.

Sabbir Rahman tried to cut a length delivery against Sohrawordi Shuvo but was castled with Dhaka in trouble before captain Mushfiqur Rahim struck a 30-ball 43 to solidify the innings. Together with Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur put on a fifty partnership for the fourth wicket before Kamrul Islam Rabbi got his scalp in the 13th over.

It was Yasir Ali who managed to induce some momentum into the Dhaka innings which were struggling to even score at six an over. Yasir's 43-ball 51, laced with three fours and two sixes and Akbar Ali's 9-ball 21 cameo saw the run-rate pick up.

Mehedi picked up Akbar in his final over to finish with two for 23 in his four overs. Kamrul, who also bagged two wickets, picked up Yasir's wicket in the last over as Dhaka reached 150 for eight.  

Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal during the toss today. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Toss

Fortune Barishal have won the toss and elected to field against Beximco Dhaka in the Eliminator match of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup today.

For Barishal, there was still some concern over the availability of skipper Tamim Iqbal, who returned coronavirus negative yesterday but was reportedly still feeling weak. However, it appears the left-handed batsman felt better this morning and decided to take the field today.