Sports Desk: As the last and fourth team, Khulna Tigers advanced to the playoff of the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) eliminating Cumilla Warriors by 92 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

With this defeat, Warriors ended their campaign of Bangabandhu BPL with 10 points from 12 games.

Replying to 218 of Khulna Tigers for two in 20 overs, Khulna Tigers tumbled for 126 for nine in 20 overs.
Warriors started the chase on a low note when Sabbir Rahman suffered a first-ball duck off Mohammad Amir. Stiaan van Zyl and Upul Tharanga added 22 runs in the second wicket but the Warriors were never in the driving seat.

Van Zyl (10), Tharanga (32), Soumya Sarkar (10), Yasir Ali (20), and Fardeen Hasan (22) reached double-digit scores, but their efforts were not enough to avoid the defeat.

Shahidul Islam bagged three wickets conceding 27 runs in four overs while Mohammad Amir and Aminul Islam took two wickets each.

Earlier, Warriors won the toss and sent Khulna Tigers to bat first. They lost their first wicket in two runs when Najmul Hossain Shanto was removed by Ifran Hossain on one.

In the second wicket, Rilee Rossouw and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 31 runs before Rossouw fell prey to Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. After losing two wickets in 33 overs, Mushfiqur Rahim and Miraz added 168 runs in the third wicket stand which is the highest partnership in any wicket of this year’s BPL.

After scoring 74 off 45 with five fours and three sixes, Miraz suffered a hamstring injury and was stretchered out of the field. Najibullah Zadran came in the wicket as the fifth batsman and scored seven off four balls with a six.
Mushriqur was tremendous in the wicket. He was so close to hitting his maiden T20 ton. But the right-handed batsman had to stop at 98 in the last over of the game.

Mushfiqur was on the strike and missed the first ball. He hit four in the second ball and then there were two wide deliveries. Mushfiqur got singe in the third ball, and Najibullah missed the fourth ball before taking a single off the fifth ball. Mushfqiur backed to the strike on 97 and managed only one run off the last ball of the innings and remained unbeaten for 98*.

With the fifties of Miraz and Mushfiqur, Khulna Tigers posted a big total of 218 runs for two wickets in 20 overs.