FBA VS KHT MATCH 19

Right then, that is it from this game and it is Fortune Barishal who get their third win of the competition and now no team in the competition is unbeaten. There is one more game left in the Sylhet leg before the caravan moves back to Dhaka and that will be played between the home side Sylhet Strikers and Rangpur Riders. That game will begin at 6 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT) but you can switch tabs in a few minutes time and catch our build-up to that game. Cheers!

Tamim Iqbal, the captain of Fortune Barishal says that finally the game went their way as previously they were at the receiving end in such crunch situations. Says that Shoaib Malik and Mehidy Hasan were brilliant at the backend. Adds that they leaked too many runs in the first innings and need to improve on death bowling. Says that it wasn't an easy wicket to bat. Further adds that they should have restricted the Tigers to somewhere around 135.

Shoaib Malik is the Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round match-winning display. Malik says that he had some prior commitments in Dubai but he is back now and it feels to have done well for the team and when it gets to crunch situations, it feels good to do well. Adds that when Mehidy Hasan came to bat, they needed boundaries from both hands and he did his job which took the pressure off and credit goes to Mehidy for that. Mentions that he knew the game would go into a position where both sides would be under pressure and thankfully, the opposition broke first.

The Presentation ceremony...

Khulna Tigers skipper, Anamul Haque is down for a chat. He says that it was a fantastic match overall as both the teams fought well. Says that unfortunately, they were on the losing end. Credits Shoaib Malik and Mehidy Hasan for their brilliant batting. Adds that they recovered well in batting in the last few overs. Further says that they didn't execute the plans with the ball in the last overs. Concludes and says they would look to make a strong comeback.

Khulna Tigers will be gutted with that loss but to be fair they played exceptional cricket in small phases that eventually got them into a position of promise with the bat. It was in general a shoddy display with the bat from the Tigers with no one apart from Parvez Hossain Emon making runs in the top order. It was a fine effort from the Pakistani duo of Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz in the death overs that took them to a defendable total. With the ball in hand, the spinners bowled decently at the start and then Faheem Ashraf did a fine job in the middle phase, picking up three wickets as well. They looked in control with 3 overs remaining but let it slip big time and the last 10 balls went for 37 runs, which is not what a bowling coach would want to see and the Tigers are finally beaten.

THE MIGHTY KHULNA TIGERS HAVE FALLEN! Fortune Barishal with an absolute robbery at the end and they have handed a first defeat to Khulna Tigers in a remarkable way. Fortune Barishal seemed to be falling behind with every over that passed by but they have gone berserk in the last two overs and have notched up a memorable win. With the ball in hand, they did a stellar job but let it slip in the last 5 overs as they conceded 67 runs in 29 balls and what could have been a 120-run chase turned out to be an over 150-run chase. With the bat then, the openers played too aggressively at the start and both Ahmed Shehzad and Tamim Iqbal faltered. Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim put on a steady stand but Sarkar fell right after the Strategic break. Rahim tried to up the ante but fell too but Shoaib Malik kept his cool and took the game deep. When the time came, both Malik and Mehidy Hasan chanced their arm and got away the big hits to take their side over the line.

WIDE! Would you believe it? Such a crucial game ends up with a Wide. Fortune Barishal have defeated the table toppers by 5 wickets. Way too high over the batter's head, Shoaib leaves it alone and it is definitely called a Wide by the Umpire. Fortune Barishal have wounded the Khulna Tigers and they have chased 18 off the last over that too, with two deliveries remaining. Khulna Tigers lose their first game in this competition. But, it's all because of Mehidy Hasan and Shoaib Malik who didn't lose till the end and fought valiantly. What a humdinger of a contest! Pure entertainment.

SIX! SCORES LEVEL! Shoaib Malik, you beauty! Full in length and outside off, Shoaib Malik smokes it over extra cover for a biggie. Just one run is required. Dasun Shanaka is under extreme pressure.

FOUR! Oh, my word! This is going down to the wire! Poor delivery and rightly punished by Shoaib. Serves a juicy half-volley on middle, Shoaib Malik hammers it straight over the bowler's head for a boundary. Precious six with respect to the context of the situation. Just 7 needed now off 3 balls.

Low full toss on offer around off, Mehidy Hasan mistimes his shot to deep mid-wicket. Just a single then.

SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! Over the wicket and on a shade fuller length, Mehidy Hasan gets in position and waits for the pace-off delivery, and pulls hard over mid-wicket, and deposits it into the stands clearing deep mid-wicket. 12 required off the last 5 deliveries.

Who will bowl the final over? Anamul Haque has the option of Nahidul Islam, Mohammad Nawaz, or Dasun Shanaka. It will be the experienced Dasun Shanaka. Can he defend 17 runs?

SIX! This is huge and the veteran says it's not over yet! Full toss on pads, Shoaib Malik hoicks it over deep backward square leg for a maximum. 18 needed off the last over.

Beautifully bowled. Right into the blockhole in the middle, Mehidy Hasan squeezes it to the off side. He couldn't have done much with that one. Lethal delivery.

WIDE! Another pace-off bounce but over the head of the batter. Wided.

Slower bumper outside off, Mehidy Hasan miscues his pull to deep mid-wicket for a brace.