In the final match of their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 campaign, Sylhet Strikers secured a dominant 6-wicket win over the Khulna Tigers at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
Despite a strong finish, Sylhet's overall performance in the tournament fell short, with the team failing to qualify for the playoffs despite clinching their fifth victory of the season. Khulna Tigers, who also managed five wins out of 12 matches, shared a similar fate.
Batting first, Khulna Tigers posted a modest total of 128/8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Afif Hossain's resilient 52 off 35 balls being the highlight of their innings. Benny Howell stood out for the Strikers, claiming 3/15 with the ball.
Facing an early setback, Sylhet Strikers lost two wickets in their chase, but a crucial 70-run partnership between Najmul Hossain Shanto (39) and Yasir Ali (46) paved the way for a comfortable victory, reaching the target with 12 balls to spare.
As the league phase concludes, the BPL now moves into the playoff stage, set to commence on Feb. 26th with a clash between the Chattogram Challengers and Fortune Barishal, who secured the third and fourth positions in the points table, respectively. The winner of this match will progress to the second qualifier, while the loser will bow out of the tournament.
Simultaneously, Rangpur Riders will take on Comilla Victorians in the first qualifier on the same day. The winner of this encounter will advance to the final, while the defeated team will face off against the winner of the eliminator in the second qualifier, determining the second finalist set to compete on March 1.
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