Comilla clinch top spot beating Dhaka

Comilla Victorians went atop the BPL points table, securing a 12-run win over Dhaka Dynamites in the last match of the Chittagong phase yesterday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The defeat left defending champions Dhaka in the third position with 11 points in 10 matches. Comilla Victorians and Khulna Titans are all but through to the top-four after acquiring the top two spots with 14 and 13 points in nine and 10 matches respectively.

Dhaka bowlers put the team in favourable position to win the game by restricting Comilla to 167 for six but some injudicious shots, played by the batsmen led the team’s downfall as they were held back to 155 for eight.

Dhaka was trembled by the departure of Evin Lewis in the third over after he misjudged a length delivery of Shoaib Malik to be stumped for six, with the scoreboard reading 13 in 1.2 overs. TV umpire took five minutes to check if his foot was in the air.

Lewis’s opening partner Joe Denly kept the run rate soaring but Comilla hit back with three wickets in three overs. Sadman Islam was run out for 9 while DJ Bravo dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (9) and Sunil Narine (5) in his first over in what was considered as the match defining moment. The situation was worsened with the dismissal of Denly as Saifuddin unleashed a perfect yorker to rattle his stump. Denly hit six fours and two sixes in his 39-ball 49. Bravo also ousted the last barrier of Comilla’s victory by taking out Keiron Pollard (27) in his last over.

However, with Comilla sniffing a victory, in the very next delivery Bravo collided with Kevon Cooper on the go, resulting in his run out and the falling down of Bravo badly in the crease. Tamim showed a great sportsmanship by calling back Cooper to the crease since he could have made a run unless he was obstructed; unfortunately though. Bravo finally finished with the figure of three for 31.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave the side a fluent start following Shakib Al Hasan’s decision to bowl first. Coming off two half-centuries in a row, Tamim looked set for his third consecutive fifty until he miscued a pull in the first ball of Shakib Al Hasan to be out on 37 off 23. His dismissal brought an end to the 60-run partnership that came off 7.2 overs and also stalled the progress as Dhaka bowlers started ruling over Comilla. Shakib’s  controlled bowling gave him another wicket, Liton this time, who scored 34 before Imrul Kayes and Marlon Samuels seemed to have the team regrouped.

Kevon Cooper who was playing his first match this season, dealt a triple strike in his consecutive two overs, including consecutive wickets of Marlon Samuels and Joss Buttler to dash the hopes of Comilla’s big total.

Samuels was the top scorer of the side with 26-ball 39, smashing five fours and two sixes while Kayes made 26. Cooper claimed three for 42 while Shakib had figures of two for 23.

 

Comilla clinch top spot beating Dhaka

Comilla Victorians went atop the BPL points table, securing a 12-run win over Dhaka Dynamites in the last match of the Chittagong phase yesterday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The defeat left defending champions Dhaka in the third position with 11 points in 10 matches. Comilla Victorians and Khulna Titans are all but through to the top-four after acquiring the top two spots with 14 and 13 points in nine and 10 matches respectively. Dhaka bowlers put the team in favourable position to win the game by restricting Comilla to 167 for six but some injudicious shots, played by the batsmen led the teams downfall as they were held back to 155 for eight. Dhaka was trembled by the departure of Evin Lewis in the third over after he misjudged a length delivery of Shoaib Malik to be stumped for six, with the scoreboard reading 13 in 1.2 overs. TV umpire took five minutes to check if his foot was in the air. Lewiss opening partner Joe Denly kept the run rate soaring but Comilla hit back with three wickets in three overs. Sadman Islam was run out for 9 while DJ Bravo dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (9) and Sunil Narine (5) in his first over in what was considered as the match defining moment. The situation was worsened with the dismissal of Denly as Saifuddin unleashed a perfect yorker to rattle his stump. Denly hit six fours and two sixes in his 39-ball 49. Bravo also ousted the last barrier of Comillas victory by taking out Keiron Pollard (27) in his last over. However, with Comilla sniffing a victory, in the very next delivery Bravo collided with Kevon Cooper on the go, resulting in his run out and the falling down of Bravo badly in the crease. Tamim showed a great sportsmanship by calling back Cooper to the crease since he could have made a run unless he was obstructed; unfortunately though. Bravo finally finished with the figure of three for 31. Earlier, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das gave the side a fluent start following Shakib Al Hasans decision to bowl first. Coming off two half-centuries in a row, Tamim looked set for his third consecutive fifty until he miscued a pull in the first ball of Shakib Al Hasan to be out on 37 off 23. His dismissal brought an end to the 60-run partnership that came off 7.2 overs and also stalled the progress as Dhaka bowlers started ruling over Comilla. Shakibs controlled bowling gave him another wicket, Liton this time, who scored 34 before Imrul Kayes and Marlon Samuels seemed to have the team regrouped. Kevon Cooper who was playing his first match this season, dealt a triple strike in his consecutive two overs, including consecutive wickets of Marlon Samuels and Joss Buttler to dash the hopes of Comillas big total. Samuels was the top scorer of the side with 26-ball 39, smashing five fours and two sixes while Kayes made 26. Cooper claimed three for 42 while Shakib had figures of two for 23.