Gazi Group Chattogram batsman Shamsur Rahman hit a six in the last ball to help his side back in the winning track in Bangabandhu Cup T20 tournament as they beat Gemcon Khulna by three wickets at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium on Tuesday.
As many as 37 runs were needed in the last three overs when Shamsur and Nahidul Islam were batting for Chattogram. Shamsur struck two boundaries in the last two balls of 18th over to ease the equation for Chattogram.
Off spinner Shuvagata Hom came to bowl in the 19th over and Khulna skipper Mahmudullah dropped a crucial catch of Nahidul Islam in the first ball. Two runs were also taken at that delivery and later Nahidul smashed two sixes against Shuvagata to swing the match towards Chattogram.
Nine runs were needed in the last over and Mustafizur Rahman struck a vital boundary in the second ball of the over. Eventually two runs were needed in the last ball and Shamsur smashed a six to seal the win to coast his side home.
Shamsur was unbeaten on 45 from 30 deliveries with five fours and one six and was adjudged man of the match.
Earlier, Chittagong won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Focus was on veteran pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza as the experienced campaigner was roped in by Khulna through lotteries two days ago. Mashrafe was picked in the Khulna playing eleven where he replaced Shahidul Islam.
Top three batsmen from Khulna got a start but Jahurul Islam Omi (26), Zakir Hasan(16) and Shakib al Hasan(15) all went back to pavilion without scoring big.
Khulna sent Mashrafe to bat at number four but he was run out for just one.
Skipper Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes chipped in with 20 odd runs in middle overs, 24 and 26 respectively, but Khulna were struggling to score quick runs in the late stage of the innings until Shuvagata Hom came to the crease.
In-form Shuvagata played a crucial 32-run innings from just 14 deliveries in the end to get the score past 150-run mark for Khulna. Shuvagata’s cameo was composed of six boundaries and one six.
Eventually Khulna posted 157 runs losing nine wickets in their stipulated 20 overs.
