Mushfiqur stranded on 98 as Khulna posts 218-2 against Cumilla

 || CF Correspondent ||

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim led from the front with a sublime 98 not out as Khulna Tigers racked up a mammoth 218-2 against Cumilla Warriors, raising a prospect of sealing the play-off berth of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) straightway at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

This was however the first 200 plus total at this venue in this season and Mushfiqur was the reason for that as he continued his rich vein of form, bringing up his second 90 plus knock in the tournament.

But while he was dismissed on 96, that came as winning-cause during the chasing against Chattogram Challengers in second match, this time he was really close to hit his first T20 century.

The prospect looked bright further when he reached 96, hitting a boundary in the second ball of the last over, delivered by Soumya but thereafter he could take just two singles to be stranded on 98, his highest T20 score.

He looked seriously dejected by the outcome but Khulna got a total that kept them in a position of winning. Cumilla indeed needed to have record chase to win the game. Any failure to do so would result in their exit from the play-off race straightway.

Cumilla got an expected start after sending Khulna to bat first as their new ball bowler Irfan Hossain removed Nazmul Hossain Shanto (1) via leg-before in the first over.

Rilee Rossouw though started with bang, hitting three sixes in his 11 ball-24, Mujeeb Ur Rahman got the better of him in his first over, reducing Khulna to 33-2 in fourth over.

Mushfiqur and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who also continued his rich vein of form as an opener, shared a record 168-run for the third wicket to leave Cumilla in a disarray state.

The partnership is broken only when Miraz sustained a hamstring injury and got retired hurt with 45 ball-74, a knock studded with five fours and three sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim played 57 balls to hit 98 which was designed with a dozen of boundaries and three sixes. Najibullah Zadran was not out on 7.