DHAKA, Jan 10, 2025 (BSS)-Durbar Rajshahi became the first team in this 
season to defend a total in Sylhet venue when they beat Khulna Tigers by 28 
runs for their second victory in five matches in the Bangladesh Premier 
League (BPL) today at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Largely due to the dew affect, the team which batted in the second innings 
generally won the game in the past matches but the trend was changed in this 
game. 

Zimbabwe recruit Ryan Burl played the important role in the victory, firstly 
with 29 ball-48 not out and then taking 2-13 in two overs.

After being asked to bat first, Rajshahi put up a challenging 178-5 and 
defended it successfully to wrap up Khulna Tigers 150 in 19.2 overs. It was 
Khulna's first match in Sylhet venue, having played two matches in Dhaka. 
They won the both matches in Dhaka phase.

The top order failure contributed in their defeat as none of them was able to 
come up with terms.

Durbar Rajshahi's inform pacer Taskin Ahmed was little bit off colour today 
but still Khulna failed to take the opportunity of that. Taskin eventually 
ended with two wickets, conceding 30 runs in 3.3 overs.

Taskin however took the wicket of Khulna skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz for one 
before he wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Salman Irshad in the last 
over.

The other batters of Khulna negotiated Taskin with ease but Sohag Gazi and 
Burl caused the havoc to slice their middle order. 

Afif Hossain was the top-scorer for the side with 33 while opener Naim Sheikh 
made 24. No other batters could cross 20-run mark.

Rajshahi rode on Burl's effective knock to post a decent total on the board. 
Yasir Ali Rabbi made 41 and added 88 runs with Burl after Rajshahi were 
reduced to a meager 67-4 in 9.5 overs.

The duo batted with caution and aggression to steer the side past 150. 

Yasir who played 25 balls for his knock and hit three fours and two sixes was 
dismissed in the penultimate over.

Akbar Ali finished the things nicely hitting an unbeaten 21 runs off 9 balls. 
But Burl who smote seven fours and one six missed out his half-century as 
Akbar played nine balls out of 10 after Yasir's dismissal.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed took 2-20 for Khulna.