|| CF Correspondent ||

Chittagong Vikings continued their winning spree as they racked up a staggering 214 for four, the sixth edition of BPL’s highest total to inflict a 26-run annihilation on a listless Khulna Titans on Saturday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Riding on half-centuries from skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and youngster Yasir Ali, Chittagong who appeared as the surprise package of the tournament scored first 200 plus score in this season after being sent to bat first. Their bowlers then complemented the batsmen’s job well by restricting Khulna to 188 for eight.

This was Chittagong’s fourth victory in five games that took them to second spot in point table while in contrast, Titans’ sixth defeat in seven matches almost ruined their hopes to break into the last four spots.

Yasir Ali hammered 54 off 36, hitting five fours and three sixes while Mushfiqur’s 33 ball-52 was laced with eight fours and one six. The duo laid the platform with 83 off 50, after opener Mohammad Shahzad gave the side a whirlwind start with 17 ball-33, clobbering three fours and as many sixes.

Vikings’ Sri Lankan recruit Dasun Shanaka, playing his first match in the tournament, provided the late blitz, clattering an unbeaten 42 off 17 with three fours and four sixes. He was key in Vikings’ 72 runs in the last five overs that comfortably propelled them past 200 runs in the Sylhet phase’s last match. It was second highest total in BPL history behind Dhaka franchisee’s 217 against Rangpur Riders in 2013 edition.

David Wiese was the only bowler in Titans bowling set-up to escape with some respectable figure by finishing with two for 26 in four overs.

Titans were derailed from the chase early in the innings when pace bowler Abu Jayed Rahi removed Paul Striling for naught and Al-Amin Hossain (5) in his consecutive overs. His new ball partner Khaled Ahmed also claimed the wicket of inform Junaid Siddique for 12, leaving Khulna at tittering 18 for three.