Fortune Barishal's Fahim Ashraf. Photo: Bangladesh Cricket Facebook page

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2025 (BSS)- Fortune Barishal's Pakistan recruit Fahim Ashraf 
claimed five wickets for just seven runs to help the side skittle Sylhet 
Strikers out for a meager 116 in their ninth match in the Bangladesh Premier 
League (BPL) today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

A victory in the match would help Barishal make a giant stride toward the 
playoffs. Sylhet which is languished at the bottom of the table could keep 
their playoffs hopes mathematically alive if they win the game but they put 
another horrendous performance to be out for paltry total. 

After electing to bat first, most of their batters played wretched shots to 
script their own downfall. The top three batters that included the likes of 
George Munsey, Rony Ralukdar and Zakir Hasan were dismissed in single digit 
figure, leaving the side at 34-3 and the situation further worsened when 
their new foreign recruit Kadeem Alleyne was out for two ball-duck in his 
first outing for the franchise.

Another new recruit Ahsan Bhatti took some responsibility amid the carnage of 
Fahim Ashraf to make team-high 29.

Fahim, however, ripped through middle order with his gentle medium pace 
bowling, denying Sylhet batters to make a rebuilding job after the top orders 
faltered.
 
Nonetheless, Jaker Ali Anik put some resistance with 19 ball-24 that helped 
the side go past 100-run mark.

Mohammad Nabi and James Fuller took two wickets apiece to complement Fahim 
Ashraf's five-wicket haul.