CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, CMC – Andre Fletcher struck a maiden Twenty20 hundred while Johnson Charles narrowly missed out on a second, as the two exiled West Indies stars propelled Sylhet Thunder to a crushing 80-run victory over Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
In a one-sided contest at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Fletcher slammed an unbeaten 103 off 57 balls to help lift Thunder to an imposing 232 for five off their 20 overs.
Charles fell short of three figures with 90 off 38 deliveries, but shared in a shared in a rollicking 150-run, second wicket stand with Fletcher, to pull their side around from 11 for one in the opening over after being sent in.
Fletcher, who last featured for West Indies 17 months ago, smashed 11 fours and five sixes as he raced to his half-century off 26 balls before reaching his hundred off another 31 deliveries.
Charles, without an appearance for the Caribbean side in three years, also blasted 11 fours and five sixes during his stay at the crease. He was first to his fifty off 25 balls and appeared set for a hundred when he was second out in the 13th over, lbw to seamer Shafiul Islam.
Fletcher, however, saw the innings to the end, adding a further 39 for the fourth wicket with captain Mosaddek Hossain (11).
In reply, Tigers were in a strong position on 75 for one following a 75-run, second wicket stand between South African Rilee Rossouw (52) and Saif Hassan (20).
But once four wickets tumbled for 25 runs to see the innings slump to 100 for five in the 13th over, not even South African Robert Frylinck’s 20-ball 44 could revive the run chase.
In the other match played, West Indies opener Lendl Simmons perished for a four-ball ‘duck’ as leaders Chattogram Challengers went down by six wickets to Rangpur Riders.
