Rangpur Riders completed the last four line-up of the Bangladesh Premier League when they edged past Dhaka Dominators by two wickets in Mirpur Friday, thus putting the capital city outfit out of the playoff race.
Bottom side Chattogram Challengers also bow out following Rangpur's victory, while Khulna Tigers became the first team to exit the ninth edition after losing to Fortune Barishal by 37 runs earlier Friday.
In-form all-rounder Nasir Hossain (4/20) and left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam (3/18) made things interesting as Dhaka went about defending a modest total of 130/8, but Nasir's counterpart Nurul Hasan (61 off 33) played a captain's knock to guide the Riders to playoff matchday one on February 12.
Player of the match Nurul struck seven fours and three sixes as Rangpur reached their target with three balls to spare.
Barishal overcome Yasir blitz to show Khulna exit door
After being relieved from captaincy, Yasir Ali found his form that eluded him so far and struck a scintillating 38-ball 60 but his valiant effort was not enough to save Khulna.
With the defeat, Khulna's slim hopes of making the last four completely vanished, reports BSS.
Barishal, who in the previous match gunned down the same opponent's 210/2 effortlessly for the highest successful chase in BPL history, this time piled up 194/5.
Khulna got a glimmer of hope through Yasir's fighting knock but were eventually restricted to 157/8.
Pakistan recruit Iftikhar Ahmed was the top-scorer for Barishal with 31-ball 51 not out, studded with three fours and as many sixes.
Some little but significant contributions from the other batters kept Barishal going until the arrival of Iftikhar.
After being asked to bat first, Khulna lost Anamul Haque cheaply but saw the scoreboard rotating along through Fazle Rabbi, who hammered 39 off 29 with four fours and two sixes.
However, Barishal lost some wickets in quick succession in the middle overs that gave Khulna a chance to dominate.
Their hopes evaporated when Shakib al Hasan joined Iftikhar in the crease as they combined for a 52-run stand to set a strong platform for a big total.
Shakib made 36 off 21 with one four and four sixes.
Iftikhar stayed in the crease till the last moment to help the side close in on the 200-run mark.
Khulna lost opener Tamim Iqbal (one) in the second over before being rescued by Shai Hope, who was appointed captain in place of Yasir.
Hope made 37 off 24 but Barishal got back in the game with a bang, taking three wickets, including that of the West Indian, for just seven runs.
Yasir refused to give up and shared a 81-run partnership with Nahidul Islam for the fifth wicket to keep the side in the hunt.
Afghan all-rounder Karim Janat, who returned figure of 4/29, dealt a double blow, removing Nahidul, who scored 24, and Yasir in the space of four balls, to completely throw Khulna out of the game.
Yasir smote five fours and three sixes.
The rest of the batters batted till the last over only to reduce the margin.