Comilla Victorians retain title of BPL Cricket

Sports Reporter :
Comilla Victorians retained the title of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket defeating Sylhet Strikes by seven wickets in a nail-biting final at the flood-lit Shar-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Thursday.
Chasing Sylhet’s total of 175 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, Comilla reached the winning spot making 176 for the loss of three wickets when they had just four balls to spare.
Comilla had a modest start as two openers Litton Das and Sunil Narine put on together 27 runs before Sunil Narine (10) was caught at the deep midwicket by George Linde off Rubel Hossain.
After Narine’s departure, one-down Imrul Kayes (2) was caught at the long-off by Thisara Perera off Linde when Comilla’s score was 34 for the loss of two wickets.
Then, Litton and Johnson Charles putting together 70 runs for the third wicket partnership before Litton was caught at the deep midwicket by Najumul Hossain Shanto off Rubel Hossain when Comilla’s total was 104 for the loss of three wickets.
Litton hit a windy 55. His 39-ball innings was belted with seven fours and a sixer.
After Litton’s departure. Johnson and Moeen Ali contributed together 72 runs in the unbroken four-wicket stand before they reached the victory target.
Johnson remained unbeaten with 79 runs. His 52-ball innings was ornamented with five massive sixes and seven fours. Johnson was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting display. Moeen Ali remained unbeaten with 25 runs. His 17-ball knock saw two fours and a sixer.
Rubel Hossain bagged a pair of wickets instead of 39 runs, while Linde took one wicket for 14 runs.
Earlier, Sylhet lost their early two wickets for 26 runs.
Opener Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim salvaged their team from disaster contributing together 79 runs in the third wicket stand before Shanto was bowled out by Moeen Ali when Sylhet’s score was 105 for the loss of three wickets.
Shanto hammered a terrific 64. His 45-ball innings saw nine fours and a sixer. Shanto fulfilled his 50-run landmark using 38 deliveries with seven fours.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten with 74 runs. His 48-ball typhoon innings had three sixes and five fours. Mushfiqur Rahim reached his 50-run landmark playing 35 balls including four fours and a sixer.
After Shanto’s dismissal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Ryan Burl built another worthy partnership 29 runs in the four-wicket stand before Burl was caught at the cover by Mosaddek Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman when Sylhet’s total was 134 for the loss of four wickets.
Burl scored 13 from 11 balls with one four.
After Burl’s dismissal, Sylhet failed to make any notable partnership but Mushfiqur Rahim played the key role to extend their innings and powered his team to score a fighting total.
Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets in the space of 31 runs, while Tanvir Islam, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine took one wicket each conceding 21, 31, 31 and 33 runs respectively.