Sports Reporter :
Durdanto Dhaka made an auspicious start in the Ispahani Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket beating Comilla Victorians by five wickets in the inaugural match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Friday.
Before the match, Minister for Youth and Sports and President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board Nazmul Hassan Papon inaugurated the colourful opening ceremony as the chief guest.
Sent into bat first, Comilla Victorians piled up a fighting total of 143 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Durdanto Dhaka reached the winning target making 147 for the loss of five wickets when they had just three balls to spare.
Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam dismissed Khushdil Shah in the fourth delivery of his fourth over, removed Roston Chase in the fifth delivery of his fourth over and fulfilled his hat-trick taking the wicket of Mahidul Islam Ankon in his last delivery of his last over.
It was not only Shoriful’s last over but also the last over of the Comilla’s innings. Shoriful Islam bagged three wickets in the space of 27 runs. The left-arm pacer was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Opener Danushka Gunathilaka and Mohammad Naim of Durdanto Dhaka made a solid start putting together 101 runs in the opening stand before Mohammad Naim was dismissed by Tanvir Islam.
Mohammad Naim hit a superb 50. His 40-ball innings was belted with three fours and three sixes.
After Naim’s dismissal, Gunathilaka could stay at the crease for a short period as he was dismissed by Tanvir Islam when Dhaka’s total was 106 for the loss of two wickets.
Gunathilaka notched up a polished 41. He struck four fours and a sixer in his 42-ball knock.
After Gunathilaka’s departure, Lasith Croospulle arrived at the crease but he failed to shine with the willow as he (5) was caught behind by Litton Das off Mustafizur Rahman when Dhaka’s score was 118 for the loss of three wickets.
After Croospulle’s dismissal, Saif Hasan (7) was bowled out by Khushdil Shah when Dhaka’s total was 133 for the loss of four wickets.
Second-down Irfan Sukkur made 24 from 16 deliveries including two sixes and one four before he was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman when Dhaka’s total was 141 for the loss of five wickets.
At one stage, Dhaka needed one run from four deliveries.
Chaturanga de Silva hit a four and helped his team to anchor the winning target.
Tanvir Islam and Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets each conceding 27 and 31 runs respectively.
Earlier, Comilla Victorians had a modest start as openers Litton Das and Imrul Kayes added 23 runs before Litton Das (13) was dismissed by Chaturanga de Silva.
After Litton’s dismissal, Imrul and one-down Towhid Hridoy salvaged their team from debacle contributing together 107 runs for the second wicket partnership before Hridoy was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed when Comilla’s score was 130 for the loss of two wickets.
Hridoy hit a fine 47.
His 41-ball innings was laced with two sixes and one four.
After Hridoy’s departure, Imrul Kayes could not stay at the pitch for a long time as he was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed. Imrul struck a superb 66.
His 56-ball innings was belted with six fours and two sixes.
When Imrul returned to the pavilion, Comilla had just six deliveries.
Taskin Ahmed grabbed two wickets at the cost of 30 runs, while Chaturanga took one wicket for 22 runs.
