|| CF DESK ||

Despite Khulna Tigers Yasir Ali’s fighting effort, Fortune Barishal skipper Shakib al Hasan’s all-round role lead them to win their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match by six runs at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.

Shakib and Nazmul Hossain Shanto helped Barishal to 145 before Shakib showed his magic with the ball to put them in the driver's seat.

However, Yasir, a local guy who has represented Bangladesh in Test cricket, played a dashing performance of 57 off just 34 balls to help his team finish on 139/6 and lose by just six runs.

Shakib, the captain of Barishal, demonstrated his attacking prowess by sending out two of his best bowlers, himself and Afghan mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, to bowl their full quota of eight overs in the first nine overs.

Shakib returned 2/10, while Mujeeb was economical, conceding only 13 runs from four overs, and Khulna were suffering at 31/2 after nine overs as a result of their efforts.

Dwayne Bravo, the top wicket-taker in T20 history, added to the pressure by scooping up two wickets in his first over to reduce the opposition to 35/4 after 10 overs.

But Yasir refused to give up the fight and got a good partner inexperienced Mushfiqur Rahim in their rearguard action.

The well-built batsman added 79 runs off 50 balls with Mushfiq before the latter was dismissed in the 19th over for 33 off 22. 

The equation at that stage was next to impossible as Khulna needed 36 off 10 balls but Yasir picked up his fifty that almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.