Riding on sensible batting by Andre Fletcher and Mushfiqur Rahim, Khulna Tigers earned their second win in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) beating Chattogram Challengers on Friday in Chattogram.

It was the first match of the Chattogram leg of BPL. Khulna played two matches before this, and won one, while Chattogram played three matches and won in two.

Khulna won the toss and opted to bowl first. They restricted Chattogram to 143 runs for eight in 20 overs. 

Afif Hossain was the best batter for Chattogram who scored 44 off 37 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Will Jack, Naeem Islam and Shoriful Islam were the other batters to have reached a double-digit score amassing 28, 25 and 12 respectively.

For Khulna, former Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera bagged three wickets conceding 18 runs in four overs while each of the other five bowlers took a wicket apiece. 

In reply, Khulna lost Soumya Sarkar early as the struggling batter scored only one.

But in the second wicket stand, Fletcher and Rony Talukdar added 50 to control the early damage. After Rony’s dismissal for 17, Fletcher and Mushfiqur added 46 runs in the third wicket partnership and guided Khulna to a six-wicket win.

Fletcher fell for 58 for 47, but Mushfiqur remained unbeaten for 44 off 30 with four fours and a six. Seekkuge Prasanna came at number 5 and smashed 23 off 15 to seal the match. 

For Chattogram, captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged two wickets.

Fletcher won the player of the match award for his 58 that was the highest individual score by a Khulna batter. 

On January 29, Chattogram will take on Sylhet Sunrisers, and on the same day, Khulna will take on Fortune Barishal.

TH