Left arm pacer Mehedi Hasan Rana claimed his career-best four wicket for 17 runs as Fortune Barishal got back on the winning path, beating Khulna Tigers by 17 runs in a tensed-clash of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Shakib Al Hasan-led Barishal, which tasted defeats in the last two matches, piled up 141-9 after being put into bat first.
Khulna were well on course of a victory, but Rana took three wickets in the penultimate over to wrap them up for 124 in 19 overs.
His three wickets in one over included Mushfiqur Rahim, who played an unnecessary scoop shot to be out as the last batter with 40 runs off 36 balls, his turn on the pitch studded with one four and one six.
Barishal’s Afghanistan recruit Mujeeb Ur Rahman, playing his first match in BPL in this season, gave Khulna the initial setback, dismissing openers Andre Fletcher at 4 runs and Soumya Sarkar for duck.
Jake Lintott then took the wicket of in-form Rony Talukdar for 14, leaving the onus on Mushfiqur Rahim to bail the side out of danger.
Mushfiqur however did well to keep one end intact and got support from Yasir Ali after Shakib, who bagged one wicket for 24 runs, removed Mahedi Hasan for 17.
Rana then got into act, getting rid of Yasir for 23.
However, Thisara Perera helped Khulna hit back with 9 ball-19. He looked set to take Khulna home before Shafiqul (1-30) got the prized scalp.
Rana then cleaned up the tail and also took Mushfiqur Rahim’s wicket to bring victory to Barishal.
Apart from Rana's four-wicket haul, Mujeeb and Lintott grabbed two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Chris Gayle got back to his favourite opening position and top-scored for the side with 45 off 34, which included six fours and two sixes.
Towhid Hridoy was the other notable scorer with 23 while Nazmul Hossain Shanto made 19.
Captain Shakib Al Hasan continued his bad patch with batting and made just 9 runs this time.
Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Thisara Perera took two wickets for Khulna, who now lost two consecutive matches after winning their first two games in BPL.
