Khulna Tigers tried their level best in the final overs of their clash against Fortune Barishal, but came short by six runs on Monday, 31 January. A 79-run partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali threatened Barishal in the final minutes, but timely wickets from DJ Bravo and Shafiqul Islam made sure that Khulna did not make an unlikely comeback in the game.
Chasing a target of just 146 runs, Khulna were choked by the spin bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan. The duo bowled an incredible spell of eight overs in the first half of the chase and gave away just 23 runs with two wickets in return. This ended up putting Khulna in a very bad shape at the turn of 10 overs, where they required 111 runs from the final 60 balls.
Now that run rate was already at 11, instincts came in, and the best batter in that line-up, Mushfiqur Rahim showed massive intent. He alongside Ali started ticking off at least one boundary every single over. Things started taking turn in the 16th over of the game, where Yasir Ali hit Bravo for a six and a four in the last two balls to state that he was seeing them like footballs out there.
With 36 required off the final two, the game see-sawed between boundaries and wickets, but good composure in the field made sure that Barishal did not throw their dominance away.
Bravo bowling the final over kept his cool and despite getting hit for a boundary in the second ball, took the prized wicket of Seekkuge Prasanna to put the final nail in the coffin.
Earlier in the day, Khulna had a horror start to their game as the opening pair of Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle failed to pass single digits. Things kept getting worse with regular wickets, before evergreen Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto rebuilt their innings for the good. Shakib scored an excellent 41 off 27 decorated with 3 sixes and 2 fours, while Shanto kept his cool to bat at a strike rate of 112.
They could have done much better than 145 in their 20 overs, but a collapse triggered in the 14th over ended them being all out inside the registered 20 overs.
With the win, Barishal returned to winning ways, and now stand at third place in the league table. Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged man of the match for his tremendous all round performance.