DHAKA, Jan 27, 2025 (BSS) - England recruit Dawid Malan smashed a brilliant 37 ball-63 as Fortune Barishal beat Khulna Tigers by five wickets in their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Thanks to Malan’s knock which was laced with eight fours and three sixes, Barishal gunned down Khulna’s 187-5 with five balls to spare.

Opener Naim Sheikh hammered a 27 ball-51 as Khulna Tigers compiled a respectable total but it was not enough to ensure a victory which could bolster their playoffs chance further.

Malan joined Tamim Iqbal after the fall of Towhid Hridoy who made 11 as the duo shared 91-run for the second wicket to pave the platform of overhauling the big total with ease.

Tamim scored 25 ball-27 before being dismissed by Salman Irshad. 

Malan soon followed him as Afif Hossain had him caught by Naim but by then he ensured the team would control the asking run rate. 

Two veterans—Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad—who made identical 24, calmly edged the side closer to victory before Fahim Ashraf (18) and Mohammad Nabi (15) finished the game without any trouble. 

Earlier, while Naim’s start was pivotal, Mahidul Islam Ankon gave the finishing touch in style with 12 ball-27 not out, smashing two fours and three sixes to help Khulna amass a challenging total.

Naim and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared 47 runs for the opening stand after being put into bat first. 

Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain broke through with the wicket of Miraz who made 29 off 18 but Naim, ably supported by Alex Ross kept the scoreboard flowing rapidly.

Just after he reached his seventh BPL fifty with a towering six, Fahim Ashraf got the better of him, breaking the dangerous partnership. Naim struck five fours and three sixes in his knock. 

Barishal bowlers then regrouped well to stifle Khulna for runs even though Afif stood tall. Just as he hinted to break the shackle, Fahim Ashraf again got the breakthrough by dismissing Afif who added 32 off 27.

However, Ankon amended with some clean hitting that eventually helped the side nearing to 200.