Perera, Dhaka’s captain, was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance. His unbeaten 103 off 60 balls, laced with nine fours and seven sixes, gave his team a glimmer of hope.

In the process, he formed a 112-run unbeaten partnership for the seventh wicket with compatriot Chaturanga de Silva, who contributed just 11 runs. However, the lack of support from other batters ultimately cost Dhaka the match.

Chasing a target of 174, Dhaka’s batting lineup collapsed early, losing four wickets for just 26 runs.

Khulna’s bowlers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Abu Hider Rony shared the spoils, dismantling Dhaka’s top order. Miraz, the Khulna captain, delivered a stellar performance, claiming three wickets for just six runs in his four overs.

For Dhaka, the opening pair continued to falter. Litton Das, who scored a duck in the previous match, managed only two runs this time. His partner, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, contributed 19 runs, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to reach double figures, leaving Perera with too much to do.

Earlier, Khulna set a challenging target of 174, thanks to a solid all-round effort.

While the middle order faltered, the contributions from opener Naim Sheikh (30), William Bosisto (26), and the late-order heroics of Mahidul Islam Ankon (32), Ziaur Rahman (22), and Abu Hider Rony (21) ensured a formidable score.

Naim and Bosisto laid a steady foundation at the top, while the lower-order trio added crucial runs in the death overs to boost the total. Despite a middle-order collapse, Khulna’s innings gained momentum at the right moments.