Durbar Rajshahi bolstered its hopes to make a place in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) playoffs after beating Sylhet Strikers by five wickets in a low scoring match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on on Monday (Jan 27). The victory meant Rajshahi ended its group phase with 12 points from 12 matches, which for the time being put them in third place in the point table.
Chittagong Kings and Khulna Tigers are the only two contenders which can ruin their hopes but if Khulna loss just one match in their next two, Rajshahi will be confirmed for a place in playoffs.
Rangpur Riders and Fortune Barishal, the two table toppers earlier confirmed the last four berth.
Rajshahi players have been suffering from payment issues, and having fielded no foreign players on Sunday against Rangpur Riders, they ensured two foreign players' participation in this match against Sylhet, the bare minimum.
Burl, one of those foreign stars, and Akbar, however, ensured that Rajshahi climbed up from the slump with a 75-run stand. Akbar fell in the 15th over after a 38-ball 43, but Burl remained unbeaten on a 34-ball 48 to take Rajshahi to the win with 3.1 overs to spare.
Earlier, Rajshahi bowlers ran riot to restrict Sylhet to 117 for 9. Mrittunjoy Chowdhury struck twice in the fourth over, removing Ariful Haque and Samiullah Shinwari to keep Rajshahi on the prowl. Sylhet's middle order could not deal with SM Meherob's spin, as first Jaker Ali and Zakir Hasan perished to the off-spinner.
Meherob would go on to bag a four-fer, while Sylhet's Ahsan Bhatti and Sumon Khan pulled a rescue act to see them cross the hundred mark.
