Khulna Tigers captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz led from the front with a sterling all-round performance to help the side secure a facile six-wicket win over Dhaka Capitals, a victory that confirmed their Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2024-25 season playoffs as the fourth and last team Saturday.
Miraz struck an unbeaten 74 off 55 with five fours and four sixes as Khulna reached 128/4, overhauling Dhaka's 123/9 in 16.5 overs.
Prior to that he picked up one wicket for 30 runs to play an important role in holding Dhaka back to a meager total at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Khulna ended the group phase with 12 points, same as Durbar Rajshahi, but thanks to superior net run rate, Miraz-led side confirmed the playoffs as the fourth team.
They are confirmed to play the Eliminator game against Rangpur Riders.
Mustafizur Rahman, who ended with 3/16 in four overs, jolted Khulna with two early wickets that included the in-form Mohammad Naim and Afif Hossain (both nought), leaving them at a precarious 14/2.
Miraz played with caution and aggression to steady the ship and shared 68 runs with Alex Ross, a partnership that kept their noses ahead.
Rahmat Ali (1/24) broke through with the wicket of Ross (22) and later the Fizz dismissed William Bosisto for 18 but Miraz serenely drove the side to victory.
Earlier, opener Taznid Hasan Tamim smashed a valiant 37-ball 58, which included one four and seven sixes but despite his effort, the home side failed to put up any significant total on the board after batting first.
Dhaka came into the game having already been eliminated from the playoff race.
They ended this BPL second from bottom with three wins from a dozen matches.
Apart from Tanzid, no Dhaka batters could put up any resistance with Sabbir Rahman making the next-best 20.
Mehedi Hasan Rana with 13 and Liton Das with 10 were the only two other batters to reach double digit.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud did most of the damage to Dhaka with an exceptional bowling figure that read 4-1-5-2.
Bosisto also took two wickets for just 10 runs in his quota of four overs.
41ST MATCH
Dhaka Capitals 123/9 (Tanzid 58, Hasan 2/5) lost to Khulna Tigers 128/4 in 16.5 overs (Miraz 74*, Mustafizur 3/16) by 6 wickets
