Joy, Yasir power Khulna to second victory in BPL

Sports Live; After losing three straight matches, Khulna Tigers finally appeared to have found their form in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament, as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Chattogram Challengers at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and captain Yasir Ali were instrumental in the facile victory which took the team in the top four for the first time.

Joy hammered a 44 ball-59 with five fours and one sixe to give the side a platform, which was utilized well by Yasir who blasted an unbeaten 36 off 17 with two fours and four sixes to help the side overhaul Chattogram's 157-9 with 159-3.

Opener Munim Shahriar got a second-ball-duck to give Khulna a start to forget but they quickly recovered from the shaky start, thanks to Tamim Iqbal and Joy. The duo shared 104-run for the second wicket stand to help Khulna reach a favourable position to win the game.

Tamim who made 47 ball-60 in the previous game, this time, struck 44 off 37 with the help of four fours and one six. But Nihaduzzman dealt a double blow, claiming the wicket of Tamim and Joy in his consecutive two overs, which gave Chattogram a glimmer of hope to bounce back in the game.

However their hope was shattered when Yasir Ali dismantled the Chattogram bowling in an extraordinary attack. He was ably supported by Azam Khan who was not out on 15 as Khulna reached the winning target with four balls to spare.

Earlier being asked to bat first, Chattogram lost Max O'Dowd cheaply before Usman Khan and Afif Hossain brought the side back in contention with 70-run partnership.

Amad Butt broke the partnership with the wicket of Usman who top-scored with 31 ball-45, hitting seven fours and one. Wahab Riaz then got into act with the wicket of Afif Hossain after he made 35. Thereafter the fast bowler scythed down the middle order in a gem of pace bowling to finish with 4-36.

Failing to negotiate Wahab meant Chattogram fell short of at least 30 runs that they expected after the partnership of Usman and Afif. Darwish Rasool added 25 while Farhad Reza was not out on 21. Saifuddin took 2-40 to complement Wahab's four-wicket haul.