Sylhet down Barishal by two runs

Sylhet Strikers won a brilliant thriller at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur to go top of the Bangladesh Premier League on Tuesday as they beat Fortune Barishal by two runs.

Sylhet currently have 12 points from seven matches, while Barishal have 10.

Batting first, courtesy of a brilliant unbeaten 89 from Najmul Hossain Shanto, Sylhet managed to put 173-5 on board.

In reply, Saif Hasan brought Barishal a great start scoring 31 off 19 balls. Then, a 67-run stand between Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Shakib Al Hasan meant Barishal were well on track.

But Rejaur Rahman Raja dismissed them both to bring Sylhet back and then Mohammad Amir sent back Karim Janat and Mahmudullah Riyad to tilt the match in Sylhet’s favour.

In the last over, Barishal required 15 and when Raja sent Iftikhar Ahmed back on the first ball and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was run out in the next, it seemed too far for them.

With 13 required off the final two balls, Mohammad Wasim hit a six to keep the hopes of a super over alive. But Raja held his nerve and Wasim could only hit a four in the final delivery as Sylhet claimed a two-run win.