Dhaka keep playoff hopes alive

Dhaka Dominators managed a commanding five-wicket win over Fortune Barishal in Sylhet on Tuesday to keep their hopes for the playoff stage barely alive.

Dhaka currently have six points from 10 games, which has seen them placed at fifth on the points table. To qualify for the playoffs, they will have to win their remaining two games and hope that either Comilla Victorians or Rangpur Riders, the two teams currently occupying the third and fourth spot in the table, lose all their remaining games.

On the flip side, Barishal had the opportunity to go two points within table toppers Sylhet Strikers with a game in hand but failed to take that opportunity as they faltered with the bat and could only manage 156-8 on Tuesday.

In reply, courtesy of Mohammad Mithun’s 54 off 36 balls, chased down that total with ease to win with seven balls in hand.

“I was looking for a big score, but I batted lower down the order, thankful to the support staff for giving me a chance at the top of the order.  We haven’t got the results, but we’ll give our best in the next couple of games,” Mithun said after the match.

Dhaka skipper Nasir Hossain was pleased with the result as they found their second win in the last five matches.

“Pleased with the performance today. Was expecting the same right through the tournament. The top-order had faltered previously, but they did a good job today. Will look to do well in the next couple of games,” he said.

Barishal skipper Shakib Al Hasan lamented that they failed to take the chance to close in on Sylhet.

“We lost the opportunity to move ahead. Now we have three matches. Every match is now very important if we want to finish in the top two. The goal will be to return to our winning streak in Dhaka,” he said. Batting first, Barishal had a good start as Anamul Haque and Saif Hassan (15) put together 42 runs for the opening stand. But a sudden collapse saw them reduced to 66-4 by the 11th over, with Shakib (5), Ibrahim Zadran (2), and Iftikhar Ahmed (10) all back in the hut.

Anamul tried to rebuild the innings with Mahmudullah, but their brief 26-run stand was broken when the former fell for 42 to Soumya Sarkar.

Mahmudullah played an innings of 39 runs off 27 balls, which, alongside a late cameo from Karim Janat (17 off five balls), took Barishal to 156-8.

In reply, Dhaka had a brilliant start as Soumya Sarkar and Mithun put together 74 runs for the opening stand in just 46 balls, with the former scoring 37 off 22 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.