DHAKA, Dec 21, 2019 (BSS)-Andre Fletcher smashed the season’s first century as Sylhet Thunder ended its four-match losing streak with a comprehensive 80-run win over Khulna Tigers in their fifth match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
The Sylhet’s victory was considered as the upset, given the fact that they handed Khulna Tigers their first defeat in the tournament. Mushfiqur Rahim-led side earlier won three matches in row in convincing manner.
But Sylhet, desperate to end the defeat jinx, was unstoppable. While West Indian opener Andre Fletcher struck a 57 ball-103 not out, his compatriot Johnson Charles was more aggressive, plundering 90 off just 38 deliveries. Riding on the Caribbean’s duo’s ultra-aggressive batting, Sylhet compiled a massive 232-5 after which their bowlers bowled well in tandem to wrap up Khulna innings for 152 in just 18.3 overs.
Krishmar Santokie claimed 3- 37 while pacer Monir Hossain and Ebadat Hossain grabbed two wickets apiece to complement Charles and Fletcher and helped the side earn their maiden victory in fifth match.
“It was one of those days when nothing went right and the way they batted they deserve to win,” Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim said during presentation ceremony.
Fletcher and Johnson put up 150 off just 70 deliveries for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the massive score after Khulna’s pacer Robbie Frylinck got the better of opener Abdul Mazid for 2.
Charls’s 38-ball 90 comprised with 11 fours and five sixes and just when he was looking set to reach the three digit mark Rangers pace bowler Shahidul Islam removed him by trapping him leg-before as he paid the price of play a cross shot against a straight delivery of a medium pacer.
Fletcher made 103 from 57 balls, a knock which was decorated with 10 fours and five sixes and in the process provided their bowlers a substantial total against Sylhet.
Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to field and it seemed to backfire as the West Indian duo played a gem of knock to enthrall the crowd who arrived to see some entertaining T20 cricket in their weekly holiday.
Khulna never looked to be in the right mode coming down to chase such a huge total against Sylhet as they failed to produce any partnership that was required to go forward in such cases.
Rille Rossouw made highest 52 off 32 balls but hardly found any able partner to make any kind of plan to take the game till the wire as wickets fell at regular intervals from the other end.
Khulna were banking on dependable Mushfiqur but he certainly failed to live up the expectations like the way he did for them earlier and once pacer Ebadot Hossain removed him for 12, Khulna innings fell like a pack of cards.
Robbie Frylinck score 44 runs but it hardly mattered as their opponent looked in total control of the game since the beginning when the West Indian duo laid the platform through their blazing batsmen.
“It’s a wake-up call for us and we need to pull up our socks,” said Khulna Tigers team director Khaled Mahmud.
“But it can happen as this is T20 cricket but the most important thing is to see how we make the comeback in the coming days,” he said.