All-round Fortune Barishal eliminated Rangpur Riders with a convincing six-wicket win in Wednesday's Bangladesh Premier League second qualifier at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 150 for victory, Barishal lost a couple of wickets early as skipper Tamim Iqbal (10) and Mehedi Hasan Miraz (eight) went back to the pavilion in the fourth over with pacer Abu Haider making the important breakthroughs for Rangpur.
But experienced Mushfiqur Rahim played a superb innings for Barishal in a tense situation, clubbing some delightful shots in his unbeaten 47-run innings off 38 balls with six fours and one six.
Souyma Sarker (22 off 18), Kyle Mayers (28 off 15) and David Miller (22* off 18) made handful contributions along with Mushfiq to guide Barishal home and set up a final date with holders Comilla Victorians in Mirpur Friday.
Mushfiq was adjudged player of the match for his anchoring innings.
Earlier, Barishal captain Tamim won the toss and elected to field.
Rangpur were off to a shaky start as they lost the wicket of makeshift opener Mahedi Hasan (two) in the first ball of the second over.
Pacer Saifuddin initiated another dismissal in the last ball of the same over and this time it was the valuable wicket of Shakib al Hasan (one).
In-form Jimmy Neesham scored 28 off 22 before getting out as Barishal bowled good line and length and took wickets at regular intervals to check Rangpur until the last part of the innings.
Rangpur lost their seventh wicket within 15 overs with just 77 on the board and Barishal were on top at that moment.
But then Shamim Hossain played a gem of a knock and smashed 59 off just 24 deliveries to lift Rangpur to a challenging total.
Shamim reached his half century off just 20 balls, which is the joint fastest in this edition, and hammered five fours and as many sixes in his brilliant innings.
Haider (12 off nine) provided valuable support to Shamim as these two put on 72 off just 31 deliveries to give Barishal a 150-run target.
QUALIFIER 2
Rangpur Riders 149/7 (Shamim 59*, Fuller 3/25) lost to Fortune Barishal 152/4 in 18.3 overs (Mushfiq 47*, Rony 2/37) by 6 wickets