Easy win for Burners

Australian Brad Hodge flays one over mid-wicket during his match-winning knock of 53 for Barisal Burners against Khulna Royal Bengals in a BPL match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR

It was a cracking straight drive by Azhar Mahmood that brought the curtains down on a one-sided Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, where the Barisal Burners comfortably beat Khulna Royal Bengals by eight wickets yesterday.
Chasing a target of 143, Barisal's victory was based on an aggressive opening partnership worth 73 in 8.5 overs between Phil Mustard and Brad Hodge. Hodge, in his first game for Barisal this year, played a captain's innings as he scored a composed 53 off just 40 balls. Mustard provided ample support with his 35.
The highlight of Hodge's innings came in the seventh over when he upped the tempo with two fours and a six against slow-left armer Sanjamul Islam. Sanjamul however got his revenge when he bowled the batsman in the 13th over. The runs continued to flow despite the wickets as Barisal's foreign recruits Joe Denly and Azhar Mahmood almost immediately took a liking to Khulna's bowling attack. Denly finished with a fluent 30 off 28 balls while Mahmood scored 21.
Earlier, Khulna after deciding to bat first rode on a 58-run partnership between Shahriar Nafees and Ricky Wessels for the second wicket to reach 88 for 2 at the end of 11 overs.
Nafees began the onslaught by smacking Nazmul Islam Apu for four boundaries in the 10th over. That particular over saw the ball disappear in almost all the corners of the park as Nafees began with a straight hit, followed by fours through long off, mid-wicket and a cut through point. Wessels joined the party in the 12th over smacking two sixes of pacer Kabir Ali.
Khulna's momentum though came to a halt after Nafees was run out in the 12th over, off a Sabbir Rahman throw, as the batsmen needlessly went for an extra run. The wicket set off a collapse as Khulna managed to add only 54 runs in the last eight overs. Spinners Alok Kapali and Elias Sunny were the best bowlers for Barisal as they picked up one wicket each and managed to curb the run rate.
SCORES IN BRIEF
KHULNA ROYAL BENGALS: 142 for eight (Wessels 48, Nafees 43; Sunny 1-19, Kapali 1-18).
BARISAL BURNERS: 146 for 2 in 18.3 overs (Hodge 53, Mustard 35; Sanjamul 1-39). Result: Barisal won by eight wickets.