Published on 12:00 AM, January 21, 2023

Barishal make the most of Chattogram leg

Bangladesh ODI skipper and Khulna Tigers opener Tamim Iqbal, despite a lacklustre start to the Bangladesh Premier League, appears to have found his touch. The southpaw followed up his unbeaten fifty in the previous game with another 44-run knock in his side’s seven-wicket win over hosts Chattogram Challengers on Friday. The left-hander also reached a milestone yesterday, becoming the first Bangladeshi to score 7,000 runs in T20s. He was five runs shy of the feat before the match and reached the milestone in style with a boundary. Playing in his 242nd T20 innings, the batter from Chattogram became the eighth-fastest to the feat. He also holds the record for most T20 hundreds by a Bangladeshi with four in total and boasts a career-best T20 score of 141, scored in the final of the 2019 BPL for Comilla Victorians. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Sports Reporter from Chattogram

The Chattogram phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was expected to produce exciting games since the franchise-based 20-over tournament shifted to the port city from Dhaka, and the high-scoring venue of Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium kept its reputation intact.

Fortune Barishal, who made the most out of the Chattogram leg as they registered three wins on the trot since losing the first game of the BPL against Sylhet Strikers, were on course to conclude the phase on a high. 

The Chattogram leg kicked off with a bang as Barishal posted 202 in the first game against Chattogram Challengers and eventually won it by 26 runs. And courtesy of their two in-form batters in skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistani big hitter Iftikhar Ahmed, Barishal posted 200-plus totals twice in the Chattogram leg.

However, there were a few low-scoring games since the opening day of the Chattogram leg. It seemed that the pitch had slowed down a bit as batters were seen to struggle in the middle.

It was Shakib once again led from the front in Barishal's next game against Comilla Victorians, where Shakib's unbeaten 45-ball 81 helped his side post 177 for six and eventually win by 12 runs.

The tournament then lit up when Barishal posted the second-highest total of BPL, 238, despite reeling on 46 for four inside six overs and, in the process, Iftikhar and Shakib broke a few records. 

Iftikhar went on to smash his maiden T20 hundred off just 45 deliveries, striking nine maximums and six boundaries, while Shakib struck nine boundaries and six maximums to register his best T20 score of 89 runs from just 43 balls.

The pair went on to add a record 192-run stand for the fifth wicket, which was also the third-highest partnership in BPL for any wicket. 

Even in the last game of the Chattogram leg, Shakib and Iftikhar combined again to steer the ship for Barishal yesterday, who were struggling on 44 for three inside the Powerplay.

Although Shakib was bowled out after scoring 30 off 17 balls at the bowling of Muktar Ali, Iftikhar combined with experienced Mahmudullah Riyad to continue his fine run of form.

The right-hander hit two sixes and five fours and went on to smash his second fifty of the tournament off just 31 balls, and remained unbeaten on a 34-ball 56. Mahmudullah also remained unbeaten on 35 off 31 balls as the pair added an unbeaten 84-run stand for the sixth wicket to post 173 for five in 20 overs.

With 275 runs in six games, boasting an average of 91.66 and three fifties, Shakib is the leading run-scorer in the tournament. Iftikhar is also not far behind as he occupies the second position with 256 runs, featuring a strike-rate of 181.56.

Overall, Barishal have utilised the Chattgram leg to their full advantage, and they appear to b the team to beat from here on,

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