Sports Reporter :
Comilla Victorians recorded a resounding nine-wicket victory over Rangpur Riders in their Twenty20 cricket match of the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
Chasing Rangpur’s paltry total of 82 off 20 overs, Comilla Victorians sailed home in 11.5 overs making 84 for the loss of one wicket.
Comilla made a modest start as their opener Mahmudul Hasan (11) was caught at the short extra cover by Misbah-ul-Haq from a delivery of Arafat Sunny when Comilla’s total was 29 for the loss of one wicket.
Then opener Imrul Kayes and one-down batsman Marlon Samuels salvaged their team from danger and powered their team to reach the winning spot.
Marlon Samuels remained undefeated with 42. His 24-ball hurricane innings was studded with eight shots through the fence and one hit over the ropes. Marlon Samuels was adjudged the Man of the Match for his awesome batting performance.
Imrul Kayes remained unbeaten with 24. He hit two fours and one six in his 29-ball knock.
Arafat Sunny took one wicket for 13 runs.
Rangpur Riders faced an early jolt losing their five wickets for 32 runs.
Apart from Mohammad Mithun, all Rangpur’s batsmen failed to face superb bowling attack of Comilla Victorians.
Nuwan Kulaskera of Comilla Victorians played the key role in demolishing Rangpur’s innings with a good support from Abu Haider.
Kulasekera dismissed opener Soumya Sarkar for five runs, removed Landl Simmons for three runs and harpooned Sachitra Senanayake for nine runs.
Abu Haider dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq for six runs, removed Thisara Perera for nine runs.
Mohamad Mithun of Rangpur Riders fought back making 28 from 42 balls featuring two fours before He was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Abu Haider off Nuwan Kulasekera when Rangpur’s score was 67 for the loss of seven wickets.
Nuwan Kulaskera bowled a devastating spell and completed his splendid spell as 4-1-14-4.
Abu Haider picked up two wickets at the cost of 15 runs while Ashar Zaidi and Sunil Narine took one wicket each for 13 and 16 runs respectively.
