Royals thrash KRB to confirm top-two finish

Sylhet Royals joined Dhaka Gladiators in the qualifiers for the final in the Bangladesh Premier League after they trounced Khulna Royal Bengals by a huge 61-run margin at Mirpur on Tuesday.
The win, which was backed by two half centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Paul Sterling, took the Royals’ tally to 16 points from 11 matches, which means they are guaranteed a spot in the top two.
Unlike the first edition, the tournament has no semi-finals – rather a qualifier and two eliminators which will decide the two finalists.
The top two teams will play in the qualifier and the winners will move into the final while the losers will play against the victors between the third and fourth placed teams for a berth in the final.
It means the Royals will get two chances to confirm a place in the final like Gladiators, who beat the same side a day earlier to confirm their berth in the qualifier.
The already eliminated Khulna Royal Bengals have now completed their tally of 12 league matches with three wins against nine defeats which confined them to the bottom of the points table.
The match virtually turned into a no-contest after Royals put 196- 3, riding on Chanderpaul’s 66 off 51 balls and Sterling’s 66 off 39 balls, and then reduced Khulna Royal Bengals to 4-31 inside five overs.
Wicketkeeper Mithun Ali scored 60 off 47 balls to delay the inevitable as Khulna Royal Bengals ended their chase on 135-7. Afghan off-spinner Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the Royals bowlers with 3-28, which took him to third among the highest wicket takers with 14 wickets from 11 matches.
BRIEF SCORES
Sylhet Royals 196-3 in 20 overs (S Chanderpaul 66, P Stirling 66, NH Milon 36 not out) v Khulna Royal Bengals 135-7 in 20 overs (M Ali 60, MS Wessels 26 not out; M Nabi 3-28, E Chigumbura 2-18).
Result: Sylhet Royals won by 61 runs.
Man of the match: P Stirling (SR).