Khulna restrict Sylhet to 157-4

Sylhet have ended on 157-4 in their match against Khulna Tigers in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019.

Winning the toss, Khulna Tigers skipper Mushfiqur Rahim invited Sylhet Thunder to bat first under lights.

Batting first, Sylhet managed to take 21 runs off Robbie Frylinck's first and the innings' second over but still their run rate was nothing up to anything which was expected. That was mainly because of Sylhet's surprise opening batsman, Rubel Mia, who struggled to score runs as at one point he was on 16 off 31 deliveries. 

But somehow, they managed to stretch the opening stand to the eighth over and put together 62 runs. The partnership was broken when Andre Fletcher was caught off Frylinck by Mushfiqur Rahim on 37. Initially, the umpire adjudged Fletcher to be not out. But Khulna skipper Mushfiqur Rahim opted for a review and it was seen that the ball had touched the bat before it reached Mushfiq and Fletcher had to go back. 

Johnson Charles at no.3 did not last long either as he was sent back by Frylinck for 17. Rubel Mia's tough time at the pitch was also soon over as Mushfiq took a brilliant catch running a long way back off Shahidul Islam to send the batsman back for 37 off 42 deliveries. 

Mohammad Mithun was the next to go for a duck as Mehidy Hasan took a good catch at short mid-wicket and Shahidul picked up his second scalp of the match. 

Sherfane Rutherford and skipper Mosaddek Hossain tried to accelerate in the latter overs, but some quality death bowling along with the lack of power hitting resulted in Sylhet finishing on 157-4. Sylhet only scored 53 in the last 37 deliveries which resulted in posting a below-average total. 

Rutherford was unbeaten on 26 with Mosaddek being unbeaten on 22. Shahidul and Frylinck picked up a couple of wickets each.