Sports Reporter :
Sylhet Sixers earned a slim five-run win over Chittagong Vikings in their match of the UCB 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first, Sylhet Sixers made a fighting total of 168 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then they restricted Chittagong Vikings to 163 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.
Sylhet Sixers faced an early debacle as they lost three wickets for just six runs.
Then David Warner and Afif Hossain repaired the damage contributing together 71 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Afif Hossain was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad off R Frylink when Sylhet’s score was 77 for the loss of four wickets.
David Warner hit a captain’s knock of 59. His 47-ball innings was studded with two fours and a sixer.
After Afif’s dismissal, Warner and Nicholas Pooran added together 70 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Warner was caught at the cover by Mushfiqur Rahim off Frylink when the team’s total was 147 for the loss of five wickets.
Pooran remained unbeaten with 52. His 32-ball windy innings saw three sixes and three fours.
Afif Hossain hit a quick-fire 45. His 28-ball knock was belted with three sixes and five fours.
Frylink of Chittagong Vikings grabbed three wickets at the cost of 26 runs, while Nayem Hasan and Khaled Ahmed took one wicket each for 20 and 33 runs respectively.
Chittagong Vikings had a disastrous start as opener Mohammad Shahzad (6) was caught at the mid-off by David Warner off Taskin Ahmed.
After Shahzad’s departure, CS Delport and Mohammad Ashraful built a notable partnership. They put on together 57 runs in the second wicket partnership before Delport was unfortunately run out by a direct throw of S Lamichhane when Chittagong’s total was 63 for the loss of two wickets.
Delport notched up a polished 38. His 22-ball innings had three sixes and four fours.
After dismissal of Delport, Mohammad Ashraful could stay at the crease for a short period as he was caught by Sabbir Rahman off Taskin Ahmed when Chittagong’s score was 69 for the loss of three wickets.
Ashraful made 22 from 23 balls featuring three fours.
Later, Sikandar Raza and R Frylink made a remarkable partnership. They added together 37 runs in the six-wicket stand before Sikandar Raza was bowled out by Taskin Ahmed when Chittagong’s total was 131 for the loss of six wickets.
Frylink remained unbeaten with 44. His 24-ball hurricane innings was laced with five sixes and one four.
Sikandar Raza hit a superb 37. His 28-ball knock saw two fours and two sixes.
Taskin Ahmed of Sylhet Sixers claimed four wickets at the cost of 28 runs, while Alok Kapali bagged a pair of wickets instead of six runs.
Nicholas Pooran of Sylhet Sixers was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
