|| CF Correspondent ||

Sylhet Sixers ended their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) campaign with winnings note as they thrashed Chittagong Vikings by 29 runs on Friday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Already out of the play-off race, Sylhet collected 10 points from 12 games while Chittagong stayed at third position with 14 points from the same number of matches. But what would make Chittagong worried ahead of the play-off games is their inconsistency as they lost four matches in the last five games.

The equation however became secondary issue after Sylhet fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, the center of Bangladesh all strategic plan in their upcoming tour in New Zealand, hobbled off the ground with twisted ankle. Taskin is scheduled to leave the country for New Zealand with first batch of national players on February 5.

Back into the game, Sylhet Sixers piled up 165 for five after being sent to bat first and their bowlers complemented batsmen’s job, led by pace bowler Ebadat Hossain’s career best four for 17, shooting Vikings out for 136 in 18.3 overs.

Sylhet’s Caribbean recruit Andre Fletcher top-scored for the side with 53 ball-66, clattering six fours and two sixes. Sabbir Rahman made 32 off 25 while Mohammad Nawaz, the Pakistan recruit, gave the side late blitz with 19 ball-34, hitting two fours and three sixes.

Fletcher and Sabbir added 65 runs for the third wicket after Chittagong’s South Africa fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, playing his first BPL match, left Sixers 37 for two.

Sabbir however failed to make his start count despite getting him well set in the crease as he holed out one to long-off in the bowling of off-spinner Naeem Hasan. Before that he smote two fours and as many sixes.

Some lusty blow from Nawaz and Fletcher then propelled Sixers past 150 runs in the slow pitch.

Viljoen was the most successful bowler for Chittagong in his first outing in the tournament with four for 29 runs.

Inform Taskin took out Mohammad Ashraful in the third ball while his new ball partner Ebadat Hossain got the better of Cameron Delport as Chittagong made a horrendous start by being reeled to three for two in second overs.

Mushfiqur Rahim, aided by youngster Yasir Ali, resisted any hiccup by sharing 42 runs before Alok Kapali broke through with the wicket of Ali after he made run-a-ball-27.