Gemcon Khulna Sunday defeated Minister Group Rajshahi by five wickets and continued their winning run at the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
Chasing 146 to win, Khulna secured a five-wicket victory with four balls to spare in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Khulna were off to a good start in their chase as openers Jahurul Islam and Zakir Hasan put on 56 in 8.2 overs before Zakir (19) got out in the ninth over.
Jahurul made a handful contribution at the top as the right-hander scored 43 off 40 balls.
Khulna lost a few wickets as the match went close in the late stages.
A total of 32 runs were needed in the last three overs when skipper Mahmudullah and all-rounder Ariful Haque were batting at the crease.
Khulna took 11 runs in the 18th over and 15 in the 19th to ease the pressure.
Khulna's Jahurul Islam plays off the back foot Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
In the end Khulna reached their target to join Gazi Group Chattogram at the top of the standing with equal eight points.
Mahmudullah played a crucial role with the bat as he was not out on 31 off just 19 balls with three fours and a six while Ariful was unbeaten on 10.
Earlier, Mahmudullah opted to bowl first.
Khulna got the early breakthrough as off-spinner Shuvagata Hom picked up a wicket in his first over again as opener Aminul Islam departed in the third ball of the second over of the innings.
Rajshahi skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto though was impressive at the other end as he scored quickly in the powerplay overs.
The left-hander struck half a dozen boundaries and a couple of sixes in his well constructed 38-ball 55.
Mahmudullah took the important wicket of his counterpart in the 13th over with the scoreboard reading 83.
Khulna's Shakib al Hasan again proved economical with the ball Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan then batted well and continued his good run of form as he played a late cameo in the latter stages of the innings.
Nurul was unbeaten on 37 off only 21 balls with three fours and two sixes while Jaker Ali was not out on a 19-ball 15, including one sixer.
All-rounder Saifuddin was included in the Rajshahi playing XI after regaining his fitness.
The Feni cricketer was Rajshahi’s first pick among the category A in the players’ draft before the tournament as the available Mahmudullah was overlooked.
Nurul and Jaker’s unbroken 52-run stand in the end meant Saifuddin did not get the chance to bat.
Jaker’s strike rate of 78 at the death overs though raised a few questions as to why Rajshahi sent him in instead of Saifuddin at No 7.
Rajshahi eventually finished on 145/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
14TH MATCH, GKvMGR
MINISTER RAJSHAHI INNINGS R B
Shanto c Shamim b Mahmudullah 55 38
Anisul lbw b Shuvagata 1 4
Rony c Jahurul b Al-Amin 14 17
Mahedi c Shuvagata b Shahidul 9 15
Fazle c Jahurul b Shuvagata 9 6
Nurul not out 37 21
Jaker not out 15 19
Extras (b 1, lb 4) 5
Total (20 Ov, RR: 7.25) 145/5
Fall Of Wickets
1-4 (Anisul), 2-47 (Rony), 3-78 (Mahedi), 4-83 (Shanto), 5-93 (Fazle)
Bowling
Al-Amin 4-0-35-1, Shuvagata 3-0-25-2, Shakib 4-0-17-0, Shahidul 4-0-43-1, Hasan 4-0-16-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-4-1
GEMCON KHULNA INNINGS R B
Jahurul c Rony b Farhad 43 40
Zakir c Shanto b Arafat 19 20
Imrul lbw b Mukidul 27 20
Shakib b Saifuddin 4 5
Mahmudullah not out 31 19
Shamim lbw b Mukidul 7 4
Ariful not out 10 9
Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 2) 5
Total (19.2 Ov, RR: 7.55) 146/5
Fall Of Wickets
1-56 (Zakir), 2-76 (Jahurul), 3-94 (Imrul), 4-100 (Shakib), 5-109 (Shamim)
Bowling
Saifuddin 4-0-33-1, Mahedi 4-0-30-0, Arafat 4-0-23-1, Mukidul 3.2-0-31-2, Farhad 4-0-27-1
Gemcon Khulna won by five wickets