Sabbir Hossain :
Comilla Victorians clinched the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket title beating Fortune Barishal by one run in a thrilling final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Friday.
Electing to bat first, Comilla piled up a fighting total of 151 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Barishal to 150 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Comilla Victorians made a good start with two openers Sunil Narine
and Liton Das put on together 40 runs before Liton Das ( 4) was bowled out by Shakib Al Hasan.
Sunile Narine was caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Mahedi Hasan when Comilla’s score was 69 for the loss of two wickets.
Sunile Narine hit a superb 57. His 23-ball innings was studded with five sixes and five fours. Sunil Narine bagged two wickets in the space of 15 runs. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Later, Moeen Ali and Abu Hider built a notable partnership. They scored together 54 runs in the seven-wicket stand before Moeen Ali was run out by a joint-effort of Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan when Comilla’s total was 149 for the loss of seven wickets.
Moeen Ali made 38 from 32 balls featuring two fours and a sixer.
After Moeen Ali’s dismissal, Abu Hider was caught & bowled by Shafiqul Islam when Comilla’s score was 150 for the loss of eight wickets.
Abu Hider scored 19 from 27 balls with one six and one four.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Shafiqul Islam bagged two wickets each conceding 27 and 31 runs respectively.
Dwayne Bravo, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan took one wicket each for 26, 30 and 34 runs respectively.
Later, Barishal had a shaky start as their in-form opener Munim Shahriar (0) was caught at the mid-on by Faf du Plessis off Shohidul Islam when Barishal’s score was just five runs.
After Shahriar’s dismissal, Chris Gayle and Shykat Ali repaired the damage contributing together 74 runs for the second wicket partnership before Shykat Ali was caught at the long-on by Imrul Kayes off Tanvir Islam when Barishal’s total was 79 for the loss of two wickets.
Shykat Ali hit a polished 58. His 34-ball innings was ornamented with 11 fours and one six.
Chris Gayle made 33. He hit two sixes and one four in his 31-ball innings before he was trapped leg before wicket by Sunil Narine.
After Gayle’s dismissal, batters of Barishal failed to make any notable partnership.
Besides, Mustafizur Rahman bowled extremely well in the penaltymate over.
Tanvir Islam bagged two wickets each instead of 25 runs. Mustafizur Rahman, Shohidul Islam took one wicket each for 30 and 36 runs respectively.
