|| CF DESK ||

Fortune Barishal beat Minister Dhaka by eight wickets to attain the top spot of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) league stage on Friday.

Shakib’s Barishal finished the group campaign with 15 points from 10 matches, and will take on Comilla Victorians in the first qualifier at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Barishal chased down the target of 129 runs losing two wickets in only 15.3 with Shakib adding 83 runs for the unbroken third-wicket stand with Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Shakib hit an unbeaten 51 off 29 with six fours and two sixes including 23 against Qais Ahmed's over. Shanto scored 28.

Opener Munim Shahriar, who struck three sixes and as many fours scored 37 off 25 balls.

Opting to bat first Dhaka made a bleak start as opener Mohammad Naim was dismissed early for 6 runs. But dependable Tamim Iqbal took charge of the game and guided the side alone, he played a crucial knock of 66 off 50 balls with nine boundaries and a six. It was Tamim’s fourth half-century in the ongoing BPL season.

Tamim added 41 runs with Shuvagata Hom for the fifth wicket partnership. Hom was unbeaten on 21 off 27 aided by two fours and one six.