DHAKA, Feb 26, 2024 (BSS)- West Indies recruit Kyle Mayers came up with yet 
another sterling allround performance as Fortune Barishal kept the Bangladesh 
Premier League (BPL) final hopes alive, thrashing Chattogram Challengers by 
seven wickets in the Eliminator game today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket 
Stadium.

Put into bat first, Chattogram were restricted to paltry 135-9, a score that 
Barishal eased past by making 136-3 in just 14.5 overs. 

Kyle Mayers who took 2-28, led the chase with 26 ball-50, smashing three 
fours and five sixes. He bludgeoned Chattogram skipper Shuvagata Hom for 26 
runs with three sixes and two fours in the fifth over, that effectively 
sealed the game.

Mayers-storm, however, steered Barishal to 73-1 in the first powerplay with 
captain Tamim Iqbal playing to his second fiddle.

Fresh from his 48 ball-66, Tamim was unbeaten on 53 off 43, sending the ball 
across the ropes for nine times. 

Barishal lost Soumya Sarkar in the second ball of the chase for a duck but 
Mayers and Tamim put on 98 off just 54 balls to edge the side closer to 
victory. 

Bilal Khan ended Mayers innings, as he edged a delivery behind.

David Miller came to the crease amid sky high expectation but could score 
just 17 off 13 with two boundaries before Romario Shepherd had him caught by 
Josh Brown. 

Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim thereafter drove the side to the victory with 
plenty of deliveries to spare.

Mohammad Saifuddin (2-28) and Obed McCoy (2-29) also dazzled along with 
Mayers earlier to help the side restrict Chattogram to a moderate total.

Opener Josh Brown made the team-high 34 off 22, clobbering two fours and 
three sixes but his fluent knock was hardly complemented by the other 
batters. 

Shuvagata Hom was the next-best scorer with 16 ball-24, a knock that was key 
in taking the side past 100 after Barishal bowlers had Chattogram wobbled. 

Barishal will now play the Qualifier-2 game on Wednesday, which turns out to 
be a virtual semifinal. They will be joined by the team, which will taste 
defeat in the Qualifier-1 game. 

Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders will face off in the Qualifier-1 later 
at night today.