Sports Reporter :
Comilla Victorians posted a narrow eight-run win over Rangpur Riders in their last match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
Put to bat first, Comilla Victorians piled up a fighting total of 170 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs and then restricted Rangpur Riders to 162 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Openers Imrul Kayes and Khalid Latif of Comilla Victorians paved their path smooth contributing together 88 runs in the opening stand.
Imrul Kayes hammered a windy 52 from 35 balls featuring seven fours and two sixes. He was caught at the backward square leg by Liam Dawson off Arafat Sunny.
Later, Comilla batsmen failed to build any notable partnership.
Khalid Latif made a polished 43 off 36 balls including three fours and two sixes. He was caught at the cover by Shahid Afridi off Arafat Sunny when Comilla’s total was 107 for the loss of two wickets.
Marlon Samuels was the other batsman of Comilla who shone with the willow making a worthy 30 off 24 balls with two fours and one sixes. He was unfortunately run out by Mohammad Shahzad when Comilla’s score was 148 for the loss of four wickets.
Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (7) was caught at the long-off by Liam Dawson off Shahid Afridi when Comilla’s score was 132 for the loss of three wickets.
Later, pacer Rubel Hossain dismissed Ashar Zaidi for 17 and removed Liton Das for six.
Arafat Sunny and Rubel Hossain got two wickets each conceding 29 and 30 runs respectively.
Rangpur Riders made a solid start as Mohammad Shahzad and Soumya Sarkar added 48 runs in the opening partnership before Soumya Sarkar (5) was caught by Imrul Kayes off Nabil Samad.
Mohammad Shahzad was the most successful batsman of Rangpur Riders. He notched up a quick-fire 45 from 31 balls including five fours and two sixes.
Shahid Afridi hit a stormy 38. His 19-ball innings was belted with three fours and two sixes.
Ziaur Rahman remained unbeaten with 38. He hit three sixes and one four in his 22-ball knock.
Rashid Khan of Comilla Victorians grabbed three wickets at the cost of 13 runs, while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Nabil Samad bagged a pair of wickets each for 27 and 35 runs respectively.
Rashid Khan was adjudged the Man of the Match.
