Akbar Ali and Ryan Burl took Rajshahi home in a small but rocky chase to keep their hope of making it into the playoffs alive as they beat Sylhet Strikers by five wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
Rajshahi, after creating controversy by playing an all-local eleven the previous day as their overseas players boycotted the match over a non-payment issue, played with two foreigners鈥攖he minimum number according to the rule鈥攖his time.
Taskin Ahmed-led Rajshahi restricted the already eliminated Sylhet to 117-9. Rajshahi chased that down with 19 balls remaining to secure their sixth win of the season.
They are now third on the table with 12 points from as many matches with no matches remaining. Rangpur Riders and Fortune Barishal鈥攂oth having 16 points鈥攈ave already qualified.
Sylhet stuttered to a below-par total, having had a dismal powerplay as they managed only 20 runs, and that too losing three wickets.
They had two noteworthy partnerships: run-a-ball 39 runs between Zakir Hasan and Jaker Ali for the fourth and 36 off 20 between Ahsan Bhatti and number 10 Sumon Khan for the ninth wicket.
Pacer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury took 3-33 after his four-wicket haul in the previous outing against Rangpur, while SM Meherob had his career-best 4-15.
In reply, Rajshahi scored 43 runs in the first six overs but lost four wickets鈥擳anzim Hasan and Jon-Rus Joggessar shared those鈥攖o make things interesting.
But Akbar (43 off 38) and Burl (48 off 34) eased the nerves in their 63-ball 75-run partnership. Akbar couldn鈥檛 finish, but Zimbabwean recruit Burl did it for Rajshahi.
