#Title

Barishal clinch last spot
Soumya, Liton hog the limelight
Sports Reporter
Naim Sheikh’s magnificent hundred went in vain as Fortune Barishal registered a nail-biting two-run win over Beximco Dhaka to clinch the final qualification spot for the playoff stages of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup yesterday.
The equation was simple for Barishal, who knew they had to win their last game against Dhaka and posted 193 for three after being asked to bat. However, even if Barishal lost, they would have qualified had Dhaka failed to reach the target in 18.3 overs.
However, Dhaka fought till the end as a win would see them reach second place and play the qualifiers against Gazi Group Chattogram. It was Naim who kept Dhaka’s hopes alive till the end by smashing his third century of the tournament.
Tamim Iqbal’s but after his departure for a 64-ball 105 including seven sixes and eight fours, Dhaka could only reach 191 for six in their allotted overs.
Chasing the huge target, Dhaka lost three early wickets before Naim and Yasir Ali added 110 for the fourth wicket. Yasir then departed for 41 as Barishal’s bowlers began to make inroads.
Left-arm spinner Sohrawardi Shuvo, playing his first game for Barishal, was the pick of the bowlers and bagged three wickets, including the crucial scalp of Dhaka skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, and ended with figures of three for 13.
Earlier, Barishal once again got a steady start from openers Tamim Iqbal and Saif Hasan. The duo added 59 runs before Tamim was dismissed for 19. Saif added 50 but after both openers were dismissed, Dhaka’s bowlers started to apply the pressure.
Afif Hossain and Towhid Hridoy came together and added a quickfire, unbeaten 91-run fourth-wicket stand that helped them post a huge total.
Afif remained not out on a 25-ball 50 while Hridoy struck the fastest fifty of the tournament off just 22 balls. Both played some powerful strokes in the latter stage of the innings.
After this defeat, Dhaka slipped to third place and they will face Barishal in an eliminator while Chattogram will face Khulna in the first qualifier.
POINTS TABLE
Team Match Win Loss Points
Chattogram 8 7 1 14
Khulna 8 4 4 8
Dhaka 8 4 4 8
Barishal 8 3 5 6
Rajshahi 8 2 6 4
PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED
Sports Reporter
On the final day of the Bangabandhu T20 Cup’s group stage yesterday, Minister Rajshahi and Gazi Group Chattogram were in stark contrast when it came to standard of cricket.
Chattogram, riding on the classical opening pair of Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das, were focused on staying as clinical as they had been throughout the tournament and ended the group stage with seven wins from eight games.
On the other hand, Rajshahi failed to secure a top-four berth due to their below-par display in a do-or-die scenario, losing by 36 runs after Chattogram posted 175 for four.
But once again it was Soumya and Liton who caught the eye. The pair were on top of their game after Chattogram were asked to bat first in overcast conditions.
Although Soumya had some fortune early on when he was dropped twice, the left-hander looked solid thereafter. At the other end, Liton had come into the match after being rested for the previous game but picked up right where he left off.
From Soumya’s elegant flick off the legs to pacer Rejaur Rahman to Liton’s sweet stroke for a boundary towards backward point, it seemed to be a walk in the park for the pair.
There were never questions about the talent of either batsman, but consistency has been the biggest concern for Liton and Soumya over the years. And both finally showed some in the tournament so far.
Soumya reached his second fifty of the tournament off forty balls in the 13th over and Liton followed suit, registering his third fifty off 38 deliveries, in the next over.
Courtesy of the two batters, Chattogram reached 100 without loss in twelve overs and at one stage were eying a total over 200.
However, Soumya departed for a 48-ball 63 featuring four sixes and three fours as the opening stand was broken for 122. Liton departed soon after, bowled by Rejaur Rahman as he attempted a lap shot. He made 55 off 43, hitting five fours and a six. The elegant right-hander was at the top of the run-getters list before the second match of the day with 306 runs from seven games.
Not only have the pair’s performances been a welcome sight for the Bangabandhu T20 Cup, the national team will also be excited by their form ahead of the West Indies series.
PHOTO: Star