Khulna Tigers registered a dominating nine-wicket victory over Sylhet Sunrisers in their Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2022 match in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday.
Chasing 143 runs, Khulna top-order batsmen cruised to victory within 15 overs to complete a commanding win.
Khulna's left and right combo Soumya Sarkar and Andre Fletcher were attacking from the beginning as the opening partnership put on 99 in 10 overs before Soumya got out in the 11th over.
Left-hander Soumya struck half a dozen boundaries and one six in his 43-run knock off 31 deliveries.
In-form Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, promoted to No 3, also joined the party with a quickfire 22 off nine balls to seal the match.
The other opener, West Indian Fletcher was more destructive as he smashed unbeaten 71 off 47 deliveries with five fours and as many sixes.
Fletcher was adjudged man-of-the-match for his superb knock.
Earlier, bottom side Sylhet posted 142 batting first in the day game after losing the toss.
Openers Lendl Simmons (six) and Anamul Haque Bijoy (four) struggled early in the powerplay as only 24 runs came in the first six overs.
Mohammad Mithun batted well in the middle-order and scored 72 off 51 balls with six fours and four sixes while skipper Mosaddek Hossain chipped in with 34 off 30.
The fourth wicket stand between Mithun and Mosaddek was crucial behind Sylhet's total as they added 68 after the Sunrisers were reduced to 34/3.
But Khulna bowlers did well in the late stage to restrict Sylhet to 142 which proved to be at least 20 runs short in the end.
Right-arm seamer Khaled Ahmed was impressive as he took two wickets conceding 20 runs, while left-arm spinner Nabil Samad was accurate with line and length as he leaked just 10 runs in his quota of four overs, and bagged the important wicket of South African Colin Ingram.
Khulna now have three wins from six games while Sylhet suffered their fourth loss in five matches.
