Duronto Rajshahi earn victory over Barisal

CHITTAGONG, Feb 2 (UNB): Duronto Rajshahi, holding their nerves in the last-over rush, earned a 4-wicket victory over Barisal Burners in the 23rd match of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 Season 2 at MA Aziz Stadium here Saturday. A nail-biting situation came across when Jahurul Islam (57) got out in the 5th ball of the 19th over bowled by Azhar Mahmood. With 10 runs needed off the last over, number eight Mukhtar Ali (10 off 4 balls) did the job, with two balls to spare, hitting Barisal Burner seamer Shafiul Islam for two boundaries through the point region. But it was two down Jahurul Islam Aumie, who steered Duronto Rajshahi home with a rollicking 38-ball 57 smacking three sixes and three fours. When Rajshahi were 57 for 3 in 9.4 overs with the top order and the big names failing to perform, Rajshahi wicketkeeper Jahurul stood up for the task. Facing an early hitch in the chase of 153, Rajshahi one down Dilshan Munaweera stood the ground with Jahurul and contributed 44 runs in the 3rd wicket stand. The 23-year-old Sri Lankan Munaweera scored 29 runs off 27 balls with four fours. In the 4th wicket, Jahurul put up a vital 53-run partnership with number five Sean Ervine of Zimbabwe. Left hander Sean Ervine, hitting two fours and two sixes, contributed 28 runs off 20 balls. Requiring 43 runs in the last five overs, Rajshahi saw Ervine get out and more unfavourably they lost skipper Chamara Kapugedera (1) with 39 runs left to be scored from the remaining 23 balls. Jahurul then pushed the tempo with hard hitting Ziaur Rahman (12 off 9 balls). Jahurul hit a six and then four in the last two balls of the 18th over bowled by leg-break Alok Kapali and changed the equation to 18 runs for victory from the last two overs. Barisal pacer Azhar Mahmood came up with a fighting spell of 20-2 in 4 overs though in vein, while English pacer Kabir Ali finished 31-2 in 4 overs. Earlier, opting to bat first after winning the toss, Barisal Burners scored 152 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs riding on an intense 34-ball 57 from Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood. Two down Mahmood hammered four sixes and two fours to help Barisal accelerate the rate after English opener Joe Denly (23 off 23 balls) and one down Sabbir Rahman (29 off 24 balls) provided the runs for Burners. In fact, Azhar Mahmood put up 36 runs (31 balls) in the 4th wicket stand with wicketkeeper Phil Mustard (12 off 16) while Azhar contributed 48 runs (off 24 balls) in the 6th wicket partnership with Kabir Ali, who scored 12 off 9. Rajshahi's Dilshan Munaweera, a part time off-break, finished economically with 18-2 in 4 overs while Australian medium-fast Ben Edmondson and slow-left-arm Taijul Islam took one wicket apiece for 31 and 34 runs respectively. Jahurul Islam of Duronto Rajshahi was named player of the match as he helped his team move to the 4th position in the points table with six points from seven matches.