BPL 2023: Iftikhar Ahmed's maiden T20 century powers Barishal to massive win

Iftikhar Ahmed scored an unbeaten 45-ball century, to help his side, Fortune Barishal, register a gigantic total of 238-4 against Rangpur Riders on Thursday in the ongoing season of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)

The 32-year-old smashed six fours and nine massive sixes during his blistering knock, making him the third Pakistani batter to score a century in the 2023 BPL season.

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Earlier, Pakistani batters, Azam Khan and Usman Khan, had also scored unbeaten centuries in the same match of BPL 2023 between Chattogram Challengers and Khulna Tigers.

The highlight of Iftikhar’s innings were his three consecutive sixes against speedster Haris Rauf in the 19^th over of the innings. Rauf ended up conceding 42 runs in four overs, while picking two wickets.

In reply to Barishal’s massive total, Rangpur Riders kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Riders opening batsmen, Saim Ayub, fell after scoring 18 runs from 18 balls, whereas their skipper Shoaib Malik could only muster 10 runs from 9 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz played a 33-run cameo from 24 balls for Riders, but it wasn’t enough to take them over the line. The Riders lost the match by 67 runs.

It must be noted that Ahmed Shehzad was the first Pakistan batter to score a century in the Bangladesh Premier League way back in 2012 when he was representing Barisal Burners in the first edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).