Comilla Victorians earned their fifth win of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday beating Dhaka Dynamites by seven runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
In the first innings of the match, Victorians posted 153 for eight wickets. While chasing it, the Dynamites tumbled for 146 for nine wickets in 20 overs. Andre Russell struck 46 for them, but that was not enough to avoid the defeat.
While replying, Dhaka lost the first wicket in the first over when Hazratullah Zazai pulls a short ball off Mohammad Saifuddin to Thisara Perera. The Sri Lankan recruit of the Victorians did not miss the chance. Zazai failed in four consecutive matches to touch a double-digit score in spite of hitting two wonderful fifties in the first two matches for the Dynamites.
Dhaka lost their second wicket at 21 when Rony Talukder fails to clear Wahab Riaz, but managed an outside edge to poke to the keeper. Anamul, the wicketkeeper of the Victorians, took that easily.
They lost four wickets in 50 runs. Along with Saifuddin, Wahab and Shahid Afridi played the big role to throw Dhaka into the deep hole.
However, in the fifth wicket stand, Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan put 52 runs. But, Thisara Perera managed a big breakthrough for the Victorians scalping Russell for 46 off 24 balls.
After six more runs from Russell’s dismissal, Shakib tumbled for 20 off 19 balls. The captain of Dynamites went to hit Afridi for a boundary, but failed to take advantage of that full-toss. He skied that ball to deep midwicket and Shamsur Rahman took an easy catch.
Dhaka kept losing the wickets in regular intervals and eventually, they wrapped in for 146 and lost the match by seven runs.
After scoring 26 off 12 deliveries, Thisara Perera took three wickets conceding 13 runs. And subsequently, he won the man of the match award.
Earlier, the Victorians post a mediocre total of 153 for eight wickets in 20 overs. Shamsur Rahman was the best batsman for them as he struck 48 off 35 deliveries before being dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan. The Dynamites captain Shakib took three wickets and completed 100 BPL scalps as the first bowler.
Victorians disappointed to ensure an ideal start as Anamul Haque fell for one while facing off a short ball off Andre Russell. He tried to pull it away but skied to square leg. Victorians’ initial blow continued as they lost captain Imrul Kayes in 27 runs.
Kayes hit a six at the start of his innings but failed to bring this golden start ahead. Rubel Hossain was the bowler to splatter his stumps.
However, in the third wicket stand, Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman added 51 runs to guide Comilla to a challenging total. Tamim fell for 34 off 29 balls. We went for a slog sweep but the ball has gone straight to the mid-wicket fielder Rony Talukder.
After hunting Tamim Iqbal, Shakib completed 100 BPL wickets as the first bowler taking Shahid Afridi and Shamsur Rahman.
Afridi posted 16 off 8 balls while Shamsur added 48 off 35 balls. They added 34 runs to help the Victorians to post a big total.
After the dismissals of Afridi and Shamsur, Thisara Perera was the only batsman to display some big shots. Before being trapped in run-out by a superb effort of Nurul Hasan Shohan and Rubel Hossain, Perera posted 26 off 12 deliveries.
Shakib Al Hasan was the best bowler for the Dynamites as he bagged three for 24. Rubel Hossain and Andre Russell took two wickets each.
Comilla will play their next match against Rangpur Riders on 28 January at Chattogram, and on the same day Dhaka will take on Khulna Titans in the same venue.
