Defending champions Fortune Barishal started their title defense in emphatic fashion, defeating Durbar Rajshahi in a high-scoring encounter as the Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25 season got off to a rollicking start in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Monday.
Chasing a challenging target of 198, Barishal held their nerves in the end, thanks to the batting depth in the lower middle-order.
Tamim Iqbal’s men pulled off the chase with 11 deliveries to spare and four wickets in hand.
Barishal captain Tamim elected to bowl first and got success early when opener Jishan Alam (nought) departed in the second over.
Rajshahi lost other opener Mohammad Haris (13) in the fourth over but skipper and No 3 batter Anamul Haque and Yasir Ali at four steadied the ship with a brilliant 140-run partnership for the third wicket.
Anamul anchored the innings and scored 65 off 51 deliveries with four fours and five sixes.
Burly right-handed batter Yasir was superb in the slog overs as he smashed eight sixes and seven fours in his blistering 94-run knock off just 47 deliveries.
Rajshahi finished their innings on 197/3, which looked like a very good total considering that it was a day clash where dew factor did not play a major part.
In reply, Barishal started things off in the worst possible way as they lost opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto (nought) in the very first ball of the innings.
The experienced Tamim (seven) also went back to the pavilion in the second over, trapped in front by Taskin Ahmed right after hitting a six.
Barishal lost Towhid Hridoy (32), Kyle Mayers (six) and Mushfiqur Rahim (13) before the midway phase of their innings, but veteran Mahmudullah stood tall and kept the chase on track with positive intent.
The veteran right-hander finished the match unbeaten on 56 off only 26 deliveries, hitting five fours and four sixes.
Pakistani duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf played two crucial innings at seven and eight respectively, particularly Faheem who was more destructive, hammering seven sixes in his 54 off 21 balls.
Taskin picked up three wickets for Rajshahi while Hasan Murad bagged two in their unsuccessful attempt at defending a big total.
1ST MATCH
Durbar Rajshahi 197/3 (Yasir 94, Anamul 65, Mayers 2/13) lost to Fortune Barishal 200/6 in 18.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56*, Faheem 54*, Taskin 3/31) by 4 wickets