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Fortune Barishal made light work of Sylhet Strikers’ 111 despite losing two early wickets in the chase to bag their second win in a row and third overall in this edition of the BPL at the Sylhet International Stadium on Tuesday. 

Sylhet collapsed from 76-2 to lose their last eight for just 49 runs to get all out in 18.2 overs. Kyle Mayers (59* off 31) and Towhid Hridoy (48 off 27) then made sure that Barishal didn’t lose their way with a partnership of 116 runs for the third wicket. 

Barishal got home in just 10.3 overs, which is a record while a target is at least 120 in BPL. 

Earlier, Sylhet were 76-2 at the beginning of the ninth over despite losing Rony Talukder—who got out in the first over—and Rahkeem Cornwall (18 off 12) in the powerplay. 

Jahanbad Khan then got George Munsey, who made 28 off 13 with three sixes, and that triggered the collapse in the Sylhet innings. 

Jahanbad got Aaron Jones and Jaker Ali too while Rishad dismissed Zakir Hasan. Sylhet captain Ariful Haque fought back with some blows before giving Ariful Haque a return catch after top-scoring with 36 off 29 for Sylhet. 

Jahanbad and Rishad—who was Tamim’s seventh-choice bowler of the day—each took three while Faheem Ashraf grabbed two wickets. 

Cornwall then instilled some hope in Sylhet by dismissing Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal in the first ball of the innings. 

Tanzim Hasan then got Najmul Hasan Shanto—who was dropped in the last match and then kept in this match to fit into the combination—in the next over.

Sylhet got Barishal at 6-2 but couldn’t make further incision soon. 

Hridoy missed out on his fifty for just two runs, but Mayers remained unbeaten to make sure that Sylhet remained winless after the first three matches of this season.