Sabbir Hossain
Comilla Victorians stormed into the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket after defeating Chattogram Challengers by seven wickets in the second qualifier match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday.
Tomorrow Comilla Victorians will face Fortune Barishal in the final at the same venue. The final will start at 5.30pm.
Chasing Chattogram’s total of 148 in 19.1 overs, Comilla Victorians sailed home making 149 for the loss of three wickets when they had 43 balls to spare.
Comilla faced an early disaster as opener Liton Das (0) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Akbar Ali off Shoriful Islam before Comilla could not open their account.
Then, Sunil Narine and Imrul Kayes repaired the damage contributing together 79 runs for the second wicket stand before Sunil Narine was caught & bowled by Mrittunjoy Chowdhury when Comilla’s total was 79 for the loss of two wickets.
Sunil Narine hit a terrific 57. His 16-ball hurricane innings was belted with six sixes and five fours. Sunil Narine was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.
After Narine’s departure, Imrul Kayes (22) was caught by Shoriful Islam off Benny Howell when Comilla’s score was 95 for the loss of three wickets.
After Imrul’s departure, Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali put on together 54 runs in the unbroken fourth wicket partnership before they reached the winning spot.
Moeen Ali remained unbeaten with 30 runs. He hit two sixes and three fours in his 13-ball innings.
Faf du Plessis remained unbeaten with 30 runs. His 23-ball innings had two fours and one six.
Chattogram Challengers had a good start as the two openers Will Jacks and Zakir Hasan put on together 31 runs in the opening stand before Will Jacks (16) was caught at the cover by Imrul Kayes off Shohidul Islam.
Then, Chattogram Challengers lost their five wickets for 50 runs.
Fourth-down Mehidy Hasan Miraz and fifth-down Akbar Ali rescued their team from debacle contributing together 61 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Akbar Ali was caught & bowled by Abu Hider when Chattogram’s total was 111 for the loss of six wickets.
Promising Akbar Ali hit a polished 33. His 20-ball innings saw two sixes and two fours.
After Akbar’s dismissal, batters of Chattogram Challengers failed to beat any notable opartnership.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz notched up a sparkle 44. He hit three fours and two sixes before Miraz was caught at the mid-off by Mooen Ali off Shohidul Islam when Chattogram’s score was 136 for the loss of eight wickets.
Moeen Ali and Shohidul Islam grabbed three wickets each instead of 20 and 33 runs respectively.
Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider and Tanvir Islam took one wicket each for 13, 21 and 33 runs respectively.
