Comilla Victorians defeated Dhaka Dynamites by one run on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Victorians posted 127 in 20 overs but Dynamites failed to chase it down in spite of superb efforts from Keiron Pollard and Andre Russell. Mohammad Saifuddin bagged four wickets for 22.
Dynamites needed 38 runs in last 24 balls. Saifuddin bowled the 17th over and gave away just one run and scalped the wickets of Pollard and Nurul Hasan Shohan in two successive deliveries.
Russell hit Shahid Afridi for two big sixes in the next over to amass 17 runs. Wahab Riaz was not fortunate enough to take the wicket of Russell in 19th over when he overstepped and Russell skied a catch which was taken in the third-man area.
Riaz conceding eight runs and took the wicket of Shuvagata Hom in that over.
The current runners-up of BPL required 13 runs in the last over to win the game. But Saifuddin finished the over conceding 11 runs and scalping Rubel Hossain, and subsequently, helping his side win the game.
The victory placed Victorians in the second place of the points table. They have 14 points in 11 matches with seven victories. The defending champions of BPL Rangpur Riders also achieved as many points but they have a better run-rate to lead the points table.
On the other hand, five consecutive losses made Dynamites’ chance to advance to the playoffs slimmer. Now, they must win the last game against Khulna Titans though the win itself will not ensure a place for them in playoffs. They also have to surpass the run-rate of Rajshahi Kings who have already secured 12 points from their 12 matches in the league stage of the tournament.
Dynamites started chasing 127 losing three wickets before posting 20 runs. The Sri Lankan recruit of the Dynamites, Upul Tharanga, failed to impress in his first match of the season. He fell prey to right-arm off-spinner Mehedi Hasan.
Right after his dismissal, Dynamites lost Mizanur Rahman and Rony Talukdar to Mosharraf Hossain and Saifuddin.
Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan scored only seven runs. Their win now depended on Narine (22), Pollard (34) and Russell (30). But they were overshadowed by the superb bowling effort of the Victorians.
Saifuddin had his career-best bowling figures in T20s. Along with him, Mehedi Hasan took two wickets conceding 22 runs. Besides them, Wahab Riaz, Mosharraf Hossain and Afridi took one wicket each.
Dynamites had won the toss and opted to bowl first.
During the Chattogram phase of BPL, batsmen were enjoying a run fest in the batting-friendly wicket but began to struggle when the league returned to Dhaka.
Victorians managed to score 38 in the first wicket stand of Tamim Iqbal and Evin Lewis. West Indian Lewis fell for eight. He was dismissed by Narine.
Victorians lost their second wicket when Anamul Haque got out for a golden duck while facing Rubel. It was Anamul’s fourth duck in his last 10 games. He failed to touch a double-digit score eight times in his last 10 appearances
Imrul Kayes (7) and Shamsur Rahman (2) failed to manage big scores. Thisara Perera (9) and Mohammad Saifuddin (2) also disappointed with the bat.
Tamim was the best batsman for Victorians scoring 38 off 20 deliveries with four fours and two sixes. Besides him, Afridi (18), Mehedi Hasan (20) and Wahab Riaz (16) also contributed with the bat.
Rubel, the right-arm speedster of the Dynamites, scalped four wickets for 30 runs while Sunil and Shakib took two wickets each.
Victorians will play their last match of the league phase against Riders. Winning the battle will put them at the top of the points table.
