Fortune Barishal's Pakistani batsman Iftikhar Ahmed struck an unbeaten robust fifty that powered the side to a 26 run win against the Chattogram Challengers in the opening game of the Chattogram phase of the ongoing edition of Bangladesh Premier League at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday.

Aftikhar stood on a whirlwind 26-ball 57 while Ibrahim Zadran was finished with 48 off 33 balls to take the side to a mammoth 202-7, the highest total of the competition until now.

Abu Jayed was the standout bowler for Chattogram scalping 3-49.

In reply, the host Chattogram were restricted to 176-4 with Ziaur Rahman smashing an undefeated 25-ball 47.

Sent to bat, Barishal made a moderate start as they lost their top order duo Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan for a cracking 12-ball 24 and 8 off 3 balls that limited them 2-46 inside the power play.

Then Mahmudllah-Ibrahim Zadran shared a valuable 31-ball 49 run stand in the fourth-wicket before the former was dismissed for 25 off 17 by Ziaur Rahman leaving the side at 120-4.

Then Iftikhar appeared at the spot and carried on single handedly adding 25 off 23 with Ibrahim, 23 off 11 with Karim Janat and a swirling 34 off 10 balls in the tail with Kamrul Islam Rabbi to pull Barishal beyond the gateway of two hundred in the stipulated overs.

Pursuing a massive 203, the hosts could amass 176-4, banking on Ziaur Rahman 47 and Usman Khan and Afif Hossain’s 19-ball 36 and 21-ball 28 runs respectively.