Bangabandhu BPL T20 2019
Qualifier 1
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
Rajshahi Royals vs Khulna TigersKhulna Tigers: 158/3 in 20 overs (Shanto 78*, Shamsur 321, Mushfiqur 21*; Irfan 2/13, Bopara 1/24)Rajshahi Royals : 131/10 in 20 overs (Malik 80, Taijul 12, Rabbi 11*; Amir 6/17, Miraz 2/6, Shahidul 1/15)Result : Khulna Tigers won by 27 runs.
Player of the Match : Mohammad Amir.
Khulna Tigers booked their place in the final of Bangabandhu BPL T20 2019 by defeating Rajshahi Royals by 27 runs in the Qualifier 1. Khulna will face the winner of the Qualifier 2 clash between Chattogram Challengers and Rajshahi Royals on January 15.
Losing the toss, Khulna were put into bat first. They lost two key wickets of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rillie Rossouw for 15 runs. Centurion of the last match, Najmul Hossain Shanto carried his form from the last match by playing a vital knock of unbeaten 78 off 57 balls. Mushfiqur Rahim chipped in with 21 as Khulna finished their innings on 158 for 3. Mohammad Irfan scalped 2 wickets for 13.
Royals had a nightmare start in the chase as Mohammad Amir ran through their batting order to reduced them for 33 for 6 in 7.5 overs. But then Shoaib Malik stood out in the middle with Taijul Islam and led the fightback. His effort gone in vain as his 80 run knock was only reduced the defeat margin for the Royals.
They were eventually all out for 131 in 20 overs. Amir bagged 6 wickets for 17 which is now the best bowling figure in BPL history and his career best in T20s.
