Kyle Mayers, the West Indies recruit, shone with both bat and ball in his debut match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as Fortune Barishal boosted their chances of making the playoffs, defeating Sylhet Strikers by 18 runs at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram

Sylhet still has a mathematical possibility of qualifying but their hopes are almost over.

Mayers scored 48 off 31 balls with three fours and three sixes in batting before taking 3-12 in bowling to help Barishal secure their sixth win in 10 matches, which moved them to third place in the point table behind Rangpur Riders and Comilla Victorians. Barishal chose to bat first and posted 183-6 with Mushfiqur Rahim top-scoring with 52, along with Mayers’ 48.

This match was crucial for Sylhet. Sylhet had to win desperately to stay in the race and qualify for the top four. Mayers removed Harry Tector and Najmul Hossain Shanto with two wickets in the opening over of the innings. To Sylhet's great dismay, that was.

Bowlers of Barisal sliced the middle order, which was crucial in reducing Sylhet to 40-6 in 9.4 overs. Benny Howell and Ariful Haque then scored fluent fifties and added 108 runs. Howell’s 53 off 32 balls had five fours and two sixes while Ariful smashed five fours and four sixes in his 57 off 31. Which was highest for the seventh wicket in BPL history, but that was not enough.

Mayers then also claimed the wicket of captain Mithun for 10 while spinners Kashav Maharaj and Mehidy Hasan Miraz further inflicted the damage with the wickets of Angelo Perera and Ryan Burul.

Howell and Ariful gave a glimmer of hope for an unlikely win before Barishal bowlers kept their cool to seal the victory.

Barishal was in trouble at 65-3, losing captain Tamim Iqbal (19), Ahmed Shehzad (17) and Soumya Sarkar (8) within the ninth over. Mayers and Mushfiqur Rahim then added 84 runs for the fourth wicket to set a strong base. Mushfiqur hit three fours and four sixes and gave the final push with Miraz (15) after Mayers was out.