Chittagong Vikings continue their winning spree as they racked up a staggering 214 for four, the highest total in the sixth edition of the BPL, to comfortably outclass a listless Khulna Titans by 26 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Riding on half-centuries from skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and youngster Yasir Ali, Chittagong-- who appeared as the surprise package of the tournament-- scored first 200-plus score this season after being sent to bat first. Their bowlers then complemented the batsmen’s job well by restricting Khulna to 188 for eight.

This was Chittagong’s fourth victory in five games while, in contrast, Titans’ sixth defeat in seven matches almost ruined their hopes to break into the last four. Vikings’ Yasir Ali hammered 54 off 36, hitting

five fours and three sixes while Mushfiqur’s 33-ball 52 was laced with eight fours and one six. The duo laid the platform with 83 off 50, after opener Mohammad Shahzad gave the side a whirlwind start with 17-ball 33, clobbering three fours and as many sixes.

Vikings’ Sri Lankan recruit Dasun Shanaka, playing his first match in the tournament, provided the late blitz, clattering an unbeaten 42 off 17 with three fours and four sixes. He was a key in the Vikings’ amassing of 72 runs in the last five overs that comfortably propelled them past 200 runs. It was the second highest total in BPL history behind Dhaka Dynamites’ 217 against Rangpur Riders in the 2013 edition.

David Wiese was the only bowler in Titans bowling set-up to escape with some respectable figure-- finishing with two for 26 in four overs.

Titans were derailed from the chase early in the innings when Vikings’ pacer Abu Jayed Rahi removed Paul Striling for naught and Al-Amin Hossain (5) in his consecutive overs. His new ball partner Khaled Ahmed also claimed the wicket of inform Junaid Siddique for 12, leaving Khulna tittering at 18 for three.

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad counterattacked and got support in Brendan Taylor as they shared 68 runs for the fourth wicket stand. If Khulna found any hope in them, it was quickly evaporated when Vikings bowlers dismissed both in the space of 11 balls. Khulna were five down for 102 runs in 11 overs and the match was virtually over.

Riyad collected three fours and four sixes in his 50 off 26 while Taylor’s 16-ball 28 was studded with two fours and two sixes. David Wiese battled lonely with a 29-ball 40 only to reduce the margin.