Khulna Titans climbed the top of the BPL-4 points table after their comprehensive six-wicket victory against Barisal Bulls in a low scoring affair at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday. Titans bowlers paved the platform for a one-way traffic by restricting Barisal Bulls to a paltry 119 for five total after which the batsmen batted patiently to sail the side home with eight balls to spare.
The Rangpur Riders’ defeat in the earlier match of the day ensured that the Titans could take a solo lead should they win the match. They have now 12 points in eight matches while Riders have 10 in seven matches. With a small total on the board, Bulls bowlers bowled well in tandem initially and reduced the Titans to an awkward 49 for three in nine overs. The shuffle left the match hung in balance but Shuvagata Hom and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad batted with utmost composure to make the chase a cake-walk. They combined for a 57-run partnership to take the side on the verge of the victory before a brilliant yorker from Rumman Raees accounted Shuvagata Hom for 40. He hit five fours and one six in his 34-ball knock. Riyad remained not out on 36 off 35 with one four and two sixes to complete the task.
Bulls could have added 20 runs more to what it piled but their pathetic death over batting cost them massively. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest scorer of the side with 31 runs while Shahriar Nafees made 23. Both of them came together at a moment when Bulls were left in tittering 24 for two. They gave the side solidity after that bad start but Titans tightened the noose on the right moment to take the upper hand of the match.
As Shahriar Nafees started to take bowlers in disdain after getting him fully set, left arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel trapped him leg-before, bringing an end to a 42-run partnership between him and Mushfiqur. Bulls received a massive setback when they lost Nadif Chowdhury (1) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim in the space of nine runs as both of them were run out. But what hurt Bulls most was their batsmen’s lack of ability to fire in the last power play of the game. Enamul Haque, who made his T20 debut in the Chittagong phase last match, was mostly to blame. Haque, at one phase, played five dot balls off pacer Juanid Khan to stall the progress of his side. He remained unbeaten on run-a-ball 20 courtesy to a consecutive four and six in the last over but his lack of improvisation gave Titans the edge they needed.