Sports Reporter :
Barisal Bulls tasted first defeat in the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League when they lost to Comilla Victorians by eight wickets in their Twenty20 cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first, Barisal Bulls scored 89 off 18.3 overs.
In reply, Comilla Victorians reached the winning target making 90 for the loss of two wickets when they had 12 balls to spare.
Comilla made a shaky start as they lost their opener Imrul Kayes when their score was 23 for the loss of one wicket.
Imrul Kayes (13) was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Sabbir Rahman off Al-Amin Hossain.
Later, Mahmudul Hasan and Marlon Samuels added 37 runs for the second wicket partnership before Mahmudul Hasan was caught at the cover by Mahmudullah Riyad off Kevin Cooper when Comilla’s total was 60 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Marlon Samuels and Shuvagata Hom put on together 30 runs in the unbroken third wicket stand and helped their team to reach the winning spot.
Mahmudul Hasan made 31 from 43 balls featuring four fours.
Marlon Samuels remained unbeaten with 23 while Shuvagata Hom remained unbeaten with 12 runs.
Kevin Cooper and Al-Amin Hossain took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Barisal Bulls failed to build any notable partnership. Barisal lost their wickets in regular intervals.
Three batsmen of Barisal Bulls could reach double-digit figures.
Kevin Cooper of Barisal made the highest score of Barisal Bulls. He hit 22 from 21 balls with two fours before he was trapped leg before wicket by Nuwan Kulasekera.
Opener Rony Talukdar hit 17 off 22 balls including two fours before he was caught & bowled by Abu Haider.
Sabbir Rahman scored 10 off 13 balls before he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh off Ashar Zaidi.
Nuwan Kulasekera and Ashar Zaidi of Comilla Victorians grabbed three wickets each at the cost of eight and 16 runs respectively.
Abu Haider bagged a pair of wickets instead of 21 runs while Sunil Narine took one wicket for 21 runs.
Kulasekera was adjudged the Man of the Match.
