Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Comilla Victorians confirmed their final berth in the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League with an entertaining 72 runs victory over Rangpur Riders at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Chasing a fighting total of 164 runs, Rangpur Riders finished their innings at 91 in 17 overs.
Opener Lendl Simmons scored the highest 25 off 20 balls with five fours and was bowled out by Abu Haider at team’s 36/2 in 4.4 overs.
Mohammad Nabi(12 off 11b; 1×4, 1×6) and Thisara Perera (11 off 13b; 1×4) were the other double figure scorers for the Riders.
Abu Hider and Ashar Zaidi grabbed four wickets each for 19 and 11 runs respectively in three and four overs.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Andre Russell took one wicket each for 13 and 15 runs respectively in four and two overs.
Earlier, sent in to bat first in the Twenty20 match, Comilla Victorians scored 163 for 7 in 20 overs spurred by the opening pair for 79 in 11 overs between Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das.
Liton was caught and bowled by Thisara Perera hammering the highest 62 off 48 balls involving seven fours and two sixes.
Imrul Kayes was out for 28 off 37 balls with one four leaving team total at 107 for 3 in 15.2 overs to follow Liton soon, was stamped by keeper Mohammad Mithun off a Saqlain Sajib bowling.
Number five batsman Ashar Zaidi who was adjudged man of the match, boosted his side with his quick-firing unbeaten 40 off 15 balls involving four fours and two fours while Shuvagata Hom (12 off 5b; 1×4, 1×6) was the another double figure scorer for the Victorians.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera stormed with his fast bowling to debacle the Victorians batting castle capturing notable five-wicket for economic 26 runs in his four overs spell.
Saqlain Sajib and Mohammad Nabi took one wicket each for 19 and 39 runs respectively in three and four overs.
The losing side Rangpur Riders will face Barisal Bulls for another final seat at the same venue on Sunday.
The grand finale is scheduled to be held on Tuesday (December 15) also at the same venue.
However, after the six-team group stage games, Comilla Victorians, Rangpur Riders and Barisal Bulls were respectively placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd by virtue of net run rate as all the three teams collected identical 14 points each. The top three teams played 10 games each with their win-loss record of 7-3.
Dhaka Dynamites earned 8 points also from 10 matches with four wins and six losses.
The two other teams-Sylhet Super Stars and Chittagong Vikings-finished their BPL journey on 5th and 6th respectively bagging six and four.
