Bangabandhu Cup T20 Tournament 2020 

11th Match. Gemcon Khulna VS Fortune Group Barisal
Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 4 December 4, 2020
Gemcon Khulna 173/6 (Zakir Hasan 63, Imrul Kayes 37, Mahmudullah Riad 24, Kamrul Islam Rabbi 3/33, Taskin Ahmed 2/43) beat 125 All Out in 19.5 Overs (Tawhid Hridoy 33, Taskin Ahmed 32, Pervez Hossain Emon 19) by 48 runs

Player of The Match: Zakir Hasan 

It was not big guns Shakib or Riad. Ironically it was lesser-known Zakir Hasan appearing for the first time for star studded Khulna who did the spadework scoring flamboyant 62. His innings and his partnership with veteran Kayes laid the solid partnership for Khulna reaching 173/6 . That score in this low scoring tournament proved way beyond the reach for possibly the weakest batting team of Bangabandhu Cup T20 Tournament Barisal. They succumbed to 125 all out in 19.5 overs conceding their 4th defeat in 5 matches.

All eyes were once again on Shakib Al Hasan. Khulna was put in to bat. But Shakib did not open on the day. Instead a new pair Zakir for the first time and Jahurual Islam went sent in. Jahurul did not last long. Shakib did not come at number three as well. Instead Imrul Kayes batted at number three. Zakir playing carefree showed how to bat on slow low wicket. Kayes gave him good company. The pair put on 90 precious runs in the second wicket partnership before Kayes got out scoring 37. Shakib came at four. In five matches so far he played at 2, 3 and 4 but did not succeed in any innings. He scored 14 in 10 balls and got out playing aggressive score yet again. Hand eye coordination is not happening for Shakib for some reason. Suggest he is rested for a match to rediscover him. He is too good a player not coming out of bad patch. 

Luckily Zakir scoring 62 in 42 deliveries and Mahmudullah 24 in 14 could master 173/6 in allotted overs.

For Barisal it was a tough ask to chase unless Tamim could bat through and inspire his team. Tamim and Emon could add 57 in 7.2 overs in the 1st wicket partnership. But with both of them leaving in the space of 1 run none but Tawhid Hridoy could withstand strong Khulna bowling. Towhid scored 33. Rest of the batsmen could do very little as Barisal innings got wrapped up for 125. With this loss fate of Barisal is almost sealed, as now they have to win at least 2 of their three remaining matches. On the other hand Khulna has also booked a place among top four.

BDST: 1734 HRS, DEC 04, 2020
AP