Thisara Perera’s stunning hundred couldn’t prevent Dhaka Capitals’ third straight defeat as they fell short of 20 runs in their chase of 173 against Khulna Tigers in the last match of the first phase in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
Khulna posted 173-8 with a late over-blitz. In reply, Perera, who scored the second hundred of the day after Chittagong Kings’ Usman Khan, dragged Dhaka from 41-6 by adding a record 112-run partnership with compatriot Chaturanga De Silva.
But that wasn’t enough for them.
Khulna captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was economical in his four-over spell as he gave away only six runs to take three wickets.
After being put into bat first, Dhaka got a decent start—led by Naim Sheikh, who scored 30 off 17—but then collapsed as they lost six for 44 runs.
When the strategic timeout was called after the 16th over, Dhaka were 110-6 with Mahidul Islam and Ziarur Rahaman at the crease.
Dhaka then came with all guns blazing. Mahidul (32 off 22), Ziaur (22 off 15), and Abu Hider scored 75 off 45 balls to lift Dhaka to a fighting total.
They scored 63 runs in the last four overs.
Dhaka captain Perera used seven bowlers, including himself, and all were among the wickets, with De Silva taking two.
Khulna struck early blows as Dhaka lost four wickets for just 26 runs in 5.1 overs. Soon that became 41-6 in 9.3 overs.
The first five batters got out in single digits except Tanzid Hasan, who made 19 off 15.
Perera then started to play the lone hand with De Silva's company. The latter made only 11 off 20 in their 63-ball unbeaten partnership of 112 runs, the highest for the seventh wicket in T20s.
But Dhaka needed 37 from the last over, and a single off the first delivery eventually ruled out Dhaka from the race.
Perera, who was dropped on 85 by Australian William Bosisto at deep midwicket off Hasan Mahmud, got the consolation as he reached the hundred in the last ball of the innings by hitting a four off Bosisto.
After a two-day gap, the BPL will now move to Sylhet, where the first match will be on January 6. The Sylhet phase will run until January 13.
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