Dutch-Bangla Bank BPL T20- Match - 2nd Qualifier - Chittagong Kings vs Khulna Tigers. Photo -The Tigers Facebook page

DHAKA, Feb 5, 2025 (BSS) - West Indies recruit Shimron Hetmyer smashed a 33 ball-63 as Khulna Tigers recovered from a shaky start to rack up 163-6 against Chittagong Kings in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Qualifier-2 game today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The Qualifier-2, considered as virtual semi final will determine who will seal the final to take on Fortune Barishal on Friday.

Khulna who won the Eliminator game against Rangpur Riders to move to Qualifier-2 were reduced to 42-4 after being asked to bat first with Chittagong Kings Sri Lankan pacer Binura Fernando running riot on them, moving the admirably in both ways.

He rattled the stump of Khulna Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 2 to give the opening. He didn’t get any wicket in the first power play but the way he curbed the aggression of Khulna batters, gave other bowlers a platform to go rampaging.

Offspinner Aliss Al Islam got the better of Alex Ross with return catch for duck before pacer Khaled Ahmed, uprooted the stump of Naim Sheikh who made 19. Arafat Sunny then joined the party to take the wicket of Aiff Hossain for 8.

Hetmyer resisted, ably supported by Mahidu Islam Ankon as the duo added 73-run for the fifth wicket. Pacer Shoriful Islam broke through with the wicket of Ankon who made 32 ball-41 with one four and three sixes.

Khulna pinned hopes on Hetmyer to give a whirlwind finish but Fernando denied him, ending his pyrotechnics that laced with six fours and four sixes. Still his knock was instrumental in giving the side a considerable total. 

Fernando eventually finished with 2-27 to be the best bowler for Chittagong.