Sylhet Strikers set up the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in second attempt as their bowlers held their nerve in an adrenaline-pumping moment to help the side record a 19-run victory against Rangpur Riders in the second Qualifier on Tuesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital's Mirpur.
They will take on three-time champions Comilla Victorians in the final for the coveted trophy for the first time, on Wednesday. Comilla indeed beat them in the first Qualifier to seal the final straightway.
Sylhet looked to lose the baton in the second attempt too despite piling up 182-7 as Rangpur rode on a brilliant knock of Rony Talukdar to close in on victory.
But Sylhet led by an inspiring captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, simply refused to give up. Needing 33 runs in the last three overs with seven wickets at hands, Rangpur were clear favourite but Sylhet bowlers remained calm under pressure to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat, restricting Rangpur to 163-8.
For Sylhet who were asked to bat first, Najmul Hossain Shanto was the top-scorer with 30 ball-40, an innings studded with five fours and one six. He and Towhid Hridoy gave the side a solid start, adding 65 runs in 8.5 overs with Hridoy making run-a-ball-25.
But the duo was dismissed in quick succession, ruining the pace with which they were progressing. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza moved him up in the batting order and played a 16 ball-28 cameo as No.3 batter.
But a flurry of wicket saw them slowing down in the middle overs before Thisara Perera and Linde hammering some crucial boundaries in the death overs that took the side to a safe zone. Both of the batters hit quick-fire 21 runs each.
Hasan Mahmud and Shanaka grabbed two wickets apiece.
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