Barisal Burners became the second team to go through to the semifinals of BPL T20 yesterday when they crushed Chittagong Kings by five wickets in their last round robin game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
By reaching the victory target of 151 runs in just 15 overs, Barisal joined Duronto Rajshahi in the last four and have left Chittagong, Khulna Royal Bengals and Dhaka Gladiators fighting for the final two spots. The Kings, who have completed their share of ten league matches, now have to wait for Khulna or Dhaka to lose their final games badly to raise from their current fifth position.
Back to the game and Chittagong lost their way after a brilliant start by Jason Roy and Ziaur Rahman, who added 51 runs in just 3.5 overs. But they lost their way when Yasir Arafat and Nazmul Islam pulled it back for the Burners.
Captain Brad Hodge and Ahmed Shehzad then gave Barisal an even better start, hammering 109 runs in just 9.5 overs with the Australian scything three sixes and eight fours in his 36-ball 67.
Phil Mustard ensured the Burners’ progress within the prescribed 16 overs, hammering an 18-ball 24 though he was vitally dropped by Brendan Taylor behind the wicket.
BRIEF SCORES
CHITTAGONG: 150-9 in 20 overs (Roy 42, Bravo 26; Arafat 3-25, Nazmul 2-24).
BARISAL: 151-5 in 15 overs (Hodge 67, Shehzad 43; Sunny 2-21, Enamul 2-23).
Result: Barisal won by five wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Brad Hodge.
-With The Daily Star input
