Sports Reporter :
Comilla Victorians confirmed their semifinal berth in the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League when they registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Barisal Bulls in their Twenty20 cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.
Comilla Victorians secured 12 points from eight matches while Barisal Bulls collected 10 points from as many matches.
Chasing Barisal’s fragile total of 105 for the loss of six wickets in the regulation 20 overs, Comilla Victorians coasted home scoring 106 for the loss of three wickets with remaining15 balls.
Comilla had a poor start as they lost their early two wickets at the cost of 14 runs.
Then Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik repaired their early damage adding together 34 runs for the third wicket stand before Shoaib Malik (8) was stumped out by Rony Talukdar off Taijul Islam when Comilla’s score was 48 for the loss of three wickets.
After dismissal of Shoaib Malik, Ashar Zaidi arrived at the crease and joined Ahmed Shehzad. They put on together 58 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership to reach the winning spot.
Shehzad remained undefeated with 76. His 63-ball marvelous innings was laced with 10 fours and a sixer. Shehzad was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.
Ashar Zaidi remained unbeaten with 20. His 18-ball knock was belted with one four and one six.
Earlier, Liton Das (0) was caught at the backward point by Sabbir Rahman when Comilla’s score was just Zero.
Then Imrul Kayes (0) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rony Talikdar off Al-Amin Hossain when Comilla’s score was 14 for the loss of two wickets.
Al-Amin Hossain, Sajedul Islam and Taijul Islam plucked one wicket each for 11, 18 and 32 runs respectively.
Earlier, Barisal Bulls could build only one notable partnership.
Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Sabbir Rahman contributing together 43 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Mahmudullah Riyad was bowled out by Abu Haidar when Barisal’s score was 88 for the loss of five wickets.
Mahmudullah Riyad made 26 from 27 balls featuring four fours.
Sensation of Twenty20 cricket opener Chris Gayle (8) was trapped leg before wicket by Shoaib Malik when Barisal’s total was 21 for the loss of one wicket.
Ewin Lewis (15), the other opener of Barisal was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Shoaib Malik off DI Stevens when Barisal’s total was 40 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Mehedi Maruf (0) was bowled out by Ashar Zaidi when Barisal’s score was 42 for the loss of three wickets.
One-down Rony Talukdar (19) was caught at the long-off by Imrul Kayes off Ashar Zaidi when Barisal’s total was 45 for the loss of four wickets.
Sabbir Rahman was bowled out by Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Barisal’s score was 88 for the loss of six wickets.
Ashar Zaidi of Comilla Vitorians picked up two wickets at the cost of 12 runs while DI Stevens, Shoaib Malik, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Abu Haider took one wicket each for nine, 15, 24 and 26 runs respectively.
