Khulna Tigers opener Andre Fletcher scored a fifty and experienced Mushfiqur Rahim remained not out on a quick fire 44 to help them fetch a six-wicket win in their Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2022 match against Chattogram Challengers Friday.
In the first match of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong phase, Khulna reached 144/4 in 18.5 overs after Chattogtam had made 143/8.
Hard hitter Fletcher, who got injured as the ball hit him while batting in the last match, lost his opening partner Soumya Sarkar for just one but kept things under control by adding 50 runs with Rony Talukdar for the second wicket.
Rony, who got a reprieve thanks to "alternative decision review system" after being adjudged leg before by field umpire, holed out in the long on by Will Jacks off Nasum Ahmed for a 18-ball 17.
Fletcher however, reached his half century before getting out for 58 off 47 balls.
He struck six fours and two sixes in the innings that kept the chase on.
Chattogram may have sensed an opportunity by removing the big West Indian in the 15th over but experienced Mushfiq made sure his side reach home safely.
The diminutive batsman played strokes all around the wicket and scored 44 off just 30 balls with the aid of four fours and a six.
He got good support from Seekkuge Prasanna who made 23 off 15.
The Sri Lankan was dismissed in the 19th over when the score was tied.
Earlier on the day, after losing the toss Chattogram lost their opener Kennar Lewis for just one but Jacks and Afif Hossain added 57 off 44 balls for the second wicket.
But Thisara Perera got vital breakthrough by getting rid of Jacks for 28 that brought upon a middle-order collapse as the port city outfit at one stage were reduced to 97/6 with Afif getting dismissed for 44.
Naeem Islam scored an unbeaten 25 off 19 and Shariful Islam finished with 12 off just six balls to recover the damage but they could not post enough runs on the board on a pitch that looked batting friendly.
Perera was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for just 18 runs from four overs.
With the win Khulna now have four points from three games while Chattogram have equal number of points from four matches.
9TH GAME
Chattogram Challengers 143/8 (Afif 44, Thisara 3/18) lost to Khulna Tigers 144/4 in 18.5 overs (Fletcher 58, Mushfiq 44*) by six wickets