Faheem’s five-wicket haul secures playoff spot for Barishal

The victory also ended Sylhet's hopes of advancing further in the tournament.  

Batting first, Sylhet struggled against Barishal's disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for a mere 116 in 18.1 overs. Their top order crumbled during the powerplay, managing only 34 runs while losing key wickets, including George Munsey, Rony Talukdar, Zakir Hasan, and Kadeem Alleyne, who was dismissed for a duck.  

Faheem Ashraf led Barishal�s charge with a sensational five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/16. He was well-supported by Mohammad Nabi and James Fuller, who claimed two wickets each, and Rishad Hossain, who took one. Sylhet�s lower-order resistance, led by Ahsan Bhatti and Jaker Ali, helped the team scrape past the 100-run mark before being bowled out.  

In their chase, Barishal encountered minor hiccups as opener Towhid Hridoy (6) and No. 3 Dawid Malan (9) fell cheaply. However, captain Tamim Iqbal steadied the innings with a measured 52 off 51 balls, laced with six boundaries. Mushfiqur Rahim provided an explosive finish, smashing 42 off 30 balls, including four fours and a six, as Barishal reached the target in just 16 overs.  

This win marks Barishal�s seventh victory in nine matches, securing their spot in the playoffs. With at least seven wins required to qualify, their place in the next stage is now guaranteed.  

For Sylhet Strikers, the loss continues a disappointing campaign. With only two wins from ten matches, their chances of making the playoffs are mathematically slim, as Dhaka and Khulna have already surpassed four wins each. Sylhet's struggles with both bat and ball have left them unable to compete effectively in this year�s tournament.