Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur fifties script comfortable Vikings win
The duo powered Chittagong to 214, along with the rest of the order, before the bowlers chipped away to restrict Khulna to 188
The Report by Mohammad Isam
19-Jan-2019
Chittagong Vikings 214 for 4 (Yasir 54, Mushfiqur 52) beat Khulna Titans 188 for 8 (Mahmudullah 50, Jayed 3-33) by 26 runs
How the game played out
Chittagong Vikings thumped Khulna Titans by 26 runs after rapid fifties from Yasir Ali and Mushfiqur Rahim, and a blistering finish from Dasun Shanaka and Najibullah Zadran. It gave them 214 for 4 - the second highest total in tournament history, to which the Titans replied with 188 for 8.
Yasir and Mushfiqur strengthened the Vikings' scoring rate in the middle overs during their 83-run third-wicket stand. Shanaka then followed it up with an unbeaten 42 off 17 balls.
Later, Titans had a brief dig at Vikings' stiff total, but once the 68-run fourth-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Brendan Taylor ended, so did the Titans' hopes of a fightback.
Turning points
- Shanaka and Najibullah Zadran smashing five sixes and as many fours during the Vikings' last five overs, which produced 72 runs.
Star of the day
Yasir, the Chittagong native, became the first among the uncapped Bangladeshi batsmen to score a fifty in this season's BPL. He struck three sixes and five fours in his 36-ball 54.
The big miss
Taijul Islam dropped a return-catch offered by Yasir when he was on 22. It was struck very hard, but the ball spilled through Taijul's hands and into the stumps. There was an appeal for a run-out as well, at Taijul's end, but Mushfiqur was well in.
Where the teams stand
Vikings' impressive start continued as they completed their fourth win in five games. Titans, meanwhile, remain rooted in last place, after their sixth loss in seven outings.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84