Sports Reporter :
Barisal Bulls registered an easy 33-run win over Chittagong Vikings in their Twenty20 cricket match of the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Monday.
Sent into bat first, Barisal Bulls piled up a mammoth total of 170 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then they bundled out Chittagong Vikings for 137 off 19.5 overs.
Barisal Bulls faced an early batting jolt losing their first three wickets for just 12 runs.
Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Mehedi Maruf added together a worthy 40 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Mahedi Maruf was caught at the mid-wicket by Arif Hasan off Ziaur Rahman when Barisal’s total was 52 for the loss of four wickets.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit the team’s highest of 51. His 45-ball splendid innings was ornamented with three fours and a six.
After dismissal of Maruf, Mahmudullah Riyad and Seekkuge Prasanna build anther notable partnership. They contributed together 61 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Prasanna was caught at the long-on by Elton Chigumbura off Mohammad Amir when Barisal’s score was 124 for the loss of six wickets.
Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Kevin Cooper added together 35 runs in the seventh wicket partnership before Riyad was caught behind by Kamran Akmal off Elton Chigumbura when Barisal’s total was 159 for the loss of seven wickets.
Prasanna hit a quick-fire 36 off 20 balls featuring two sixes and one four while Mehedi Maruf made 28 from 25 balls including two sixes and one four.
Kevin Cooper remained unbeaten with 21. He hit two sixes in his 11-ball knock.
Mohammad Amir and Ziaur Rahman bagged a couple of wickets each at the cost of 20 and 24 runs respectively.
Shafiul Islam and Elton Chigumbura took one wicket each conceding 34 and 38 runs respectively.
Later, Chittagong Vikings could build only one notable partnership.
Naeem Islam and Mohammad Amir put on together 45 runs for the seventh wicket stand before Mohammad Amir was cleanly bowled out by Kevin Cooper when Chittagong’s score was 122 for the loss of seven wickets.
Naeem Islam fought back against the tight and controlled bowling attack of Barisal Bulls.
Naeem hit a polished 38 from 40 balls with three fours before he was bowled out by Kevin Cooper when Chittagong’s total was 129 for the loss of eight wickets.
Mohammad Amir and TM Dilshan added 20 and 19 runs respectively to the Chittagong’s total.
Kevin Cooper grabbed three wickets at the cost of 28 runs while Al-Amin Hossain bagged a pair of wickets instead of 34 runs.
Mahmudullah Riyad, Mohammad Sami and Taijul Islam took one wicket each for six, 19 and 20 runs respectively.
Kevin Cooper was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
