Mohammad Mithun hit his first half-century in the season as Dhaka Dominators stunned Fortune Barishal by five wickets for their only third victory in 10 games in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (Jan 31). A mediocre batting performance indeed scripted Barishal's first defeat to any side in this BPL other than table topper Sylhet Strikers. They were restricted to 156 for 8, a score that proved insufficient as Dhaka chased the target with seven balls to spare.
Player of The Match Mithun was instrumental behind the win, smashing a 36 ball-54 that included six fours and three sixes. He and his fellow opener Soumya Sarkar paved the platform of the stunning victory with 74-run partnership in which Soumya's contribution was 37 off 22, a score studded with four fours and two sixes.
Abdullah Al Mamun scored 26 while captain Nasir Hossain was unbeaten on 20, taking the side home without much fuss.
Shakib Al Hasan was the most successful bowler for Barishal with 2-18 but he remained off colour with bat, as he scored only 5. After starting BPL with bang, Shakib has been going through a lean batting patch for the last three matches.
Anamul Haque Bijoy made team high 42 off 35 with five fours and one six and senior batter Mahmudullah Riyad finally scored some runs, hitting 27 ball-39 with four fours and two sixes. However, the middle order failed to click when it needed most.
Apart from Shakib, Ibrahim Zadran also fell to single digit figure while inform Iftikhar Ahmed was able to score just 10. The trio's failure in the middle order prevented Shakib's side from posting a respectable total. Meanwhile, it was Mahmudullah who helped them steer to 156 runs mark finally.
Amir Hamza claimed 2-22 to play a key role to interrupt Barishal at the halfway mark of the innings.
Despite the defeat, Barishal retained their second spot with 12 points from nine matches while Dhaka moved up to fifth position with six points from 10 matches.
