A late onslaught of Ariful Haque and Carlos Brathwaite gave Khulna Titans an 18-run win over Chittagong Vikings and dragged them out from the bottom of the point table of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital. Ariful Haque and Brathwaite helped Khulna amass 69 runs in the last five overs in an astonishing assault on Vikings bowlers to steer the side to a strong 170 for seven, which was even tougher following an opening burst of Abu Jayed who dealt a double strike in the opening over, dismissing Vikings linchpin Luke Ronchi and Soumya Sarkar. Jayed ended up with figure of four for 35 as Vikings finally were held back to 152 for seven.

Being sent to bat first, Khulna huffed and puffed to their way to 68 in the first 10 overs but lost four wickets, indicating a yet another low score affair. They relied on Chadwick Walton and Rilee Rossouw to give the firepower from their top and middle order but both of them failed to do so. Walton scored just 5 while Rossouw though set him in the crease, finally couldn’t capitalize on it, being out on 25 off 26.

Mahmudullah Riyad and Ariful Haque brought the side back in contention by pacing the innings but the run rate yet didn’t soar up. Skipper Mahmudullah was out on 40 off 33, hitting two fours and as many sixes and his dismissal brought Brathwaite in the crease.

Brathwaite gave the innings a much needed momentum what was needed badly. At the same time, his presence was additional boost up for Ariful Haque who in fact kick-started the party with 24-run in an over of Tanbir Hyder. Brathwaite at the other end continued big hitting to suddenly bring a score closer to 200 in eye sight. That was not to be with Shuvashis Roy ended Brathwaite storm by disturbing his wicket. Before then he scored 30 off 14 with two fours and three sixes.

Ariful Haque however was dismissed in the last ball of the innings, after scoring 40 off 25 with one four and four sixes.

Chittagong fast bowler Taskin Ahmed claimed three but conceded 43 runs while left arm spinner Sanjamul Islam took two for 20.

Much was depended on the start of Luke Ronchi if Chittagong was to win the match. Abu Jayed removed Ronchi in the third ball of the innings for 2 and then took out Soumya Sarkar for naught to stand on a hattrick. Dilshan Munaweera resisted the hattrick delivery but he too was victimized by the delivery of Jayed to leave the side 21 for three in third over.

As Carlos Brathwaite got rid of Anamul Haque Bijoy for 18, Chittagong’s defeat was almost ensured. Jayed however then dismissed captain Misbah-ul-Haque to register his career best bowling—4-0-35-4. Misbah took 37 balls to score 30. The highest scorer for them however was Sikandar Raza with 27 ball-37. Jayed was adjudged man of the match for his career best figure.