Comilla first to seal play-off spot

Gayle again fails to live up to his billing

Comilla Victorians became the first team to reach the qualifier stage of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) by securing a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Barisal Bulls yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Victorians Pakistan recruit Ahmed Shehzad was instrumental in clinching facile victory which also consolidated their top spot with 12 points in eight outings. In a tricky pitch where batting wasn’t so easy, Shehzad smashed an unbeaten 76 off 63 that steered Victorians to get over the line in 17.3 overs after Bulls compiled a below par 105 for six.
Shehzad struck 10 fours and one six in his flashy 76 to make him obvious in either side as the next best score of the game was Bulls captain Mahmudullah Riyad’s 26. He was aided by Ashar Zaidi’s unbeaten 20.
Bulls start with bowling didn’t indicate the meek surrender what happened at the end. Paceman Sajedul Islam dismissed Liton Das in the very first ball of the chase as the batsman cut one inadvertently to offer a sitter at backward point. Shehzad came in the crease and immediately stamped his authority by hitting some powerful shot that beautifully carved past the inner circle. At other end, Imrul Kayes was struggling to get off the hook. Al-Amin Hossain finally ended his uncomfortable stay with a good length ball that Kayes tried to defend in vain.
Shoaib Malik was also not comfortable in his brief stay which was ended by left arm spinner Taijul Islam who left him clueless with giving huge flight on the air. Comilla were left three for 48 and Bulls sensed a chance given the wicket wasn’t conducive to the batsmen. But Shehzad was unperturbed by the dodgy nature of wicket. He was assured and looked certain to know when to go on berserk. He just needed a partner at other end which he duly got in Ashar Zaidi. They combined for an unbeatable 58 runs to sail the side home eventually.
For the consecutive second day, Chris Gayle failed to live up to his reputation as Barisal Bulls tasted second consecutive defeat. Gayle once again made eight before being dismissed as the first batsman. This massive wicket changed the whole body language of the Victorians bowlers and fielders. They didn’t let loose the things that even left a free stroke-maker Evin Lewis huffing and puffing for runs. Lewis eventually made 15 while Rony Talukdar chipped in with 19.
But Victorians came on top, reeling them to 45 for four before Mamudullah Riyad and Sabbir Rahman Rumman consolidated. As they were stubborn, Mashrafe’s mantra was simple: to force them eat up dots balls, a trick that beautifully worked as it strangled the scoreboard. Riyad was the highest scorer with 27 ball-27 and got dismissed when he tired to go onslaught. Sabbir scored 17 off 21. However Sekugge Prasanna’s fluent 15 eventually helped them go past 100. Ashar Zaidi was the most successful bowler for Victorians with two for 12.

SCOREBOARD

Barisal Bulls innings:
C Gayle lbw b Malik                       8
E Lewis c Malik b Stevens         15
Rony c Kayes b Zaidi                  19
Mehedi b Zaidi                               0
M Riyad b Haider                         26
Sabbir b Rabbi                             17
S Prasanna not out                     15
R Emrit not out                               2
Extras (lb 1, w 2)                             3
Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs)      105
Did not bat: Al-Amin Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Taijul Islam
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-40, 3-42, 4-45, 5-88, 6-88
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
S Malik         4    0    15    1
Shuvagata   2    0    18    0
Abu Haider   4    0    26    1
D Stevens    4    0    9       1
Ashar Zaidi  4    0    12    2
KI Rabbi        2    0    24    1

Comilla Victorians innings:
Liton c Sabbir b Sajedul             0
I Kayes c Rony b Al-Amin           0
A Shehzad not out                     76
S Malik st Rony b Taijul             8
Ashar Zaidi not out                   20
Extras (lb 1, w 1)                         2
Total: (3 wickets; 17.3 overs) 106
Did not bat: D Stevens, Shuvagata, A Kapali, Mashrafe, KI Rabbi, Abu Hider.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-48.
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
Sajedul         3    0    18    1
Al-Amin         3    0    11    1
R Emrit         3    0    15    0
Taijul             4    0    32    1
S Prasanna 2.3    0    22   0
M Riyad        2    0    7    0

Comilla first to seal play-off spot

Gayle again fails to live up to his billing

Comilla Victorians became the first team to reach the qualifier stage of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) by securing a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Barisal Bulls yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Victorians Pakistan recruit Ahmed Shehzad was instrumental in clinching facile victory which also consolidated their top spot with 12 points in eight outings. In a tricky pitch where batting wasnt so easy, Shehzad smashed an unbeaten 76 off 63 that steered Victorians to get over the line in 17.3 overs after Bulls compiled a below par 105 for six. Shehzad struck 10 fours and one six in his flashy 76 to make him obvious in either side as the next best score of the game was Bulls captain Mahmudullah Riyads 26. He was aided by Ashar Zaidis unbeaten 20. Bulls start with bowling didnt indicate the meek surrender what happened at the end. Paceman Sajedul Islam dismissed Liton Das in the very first ball of the chase as the batsman cut one inadvertently to offer a sitter at backward point. Shehzad came in the crease and immediately stamped his authority by hitting some powerful shot that beautifully carved past the inner circle. At other end, Imrul Kayes was struggling to get off the hook. Al-Amin Hossain finally ended his uncomfortable stay with a good length ball that Kayes tried to defend in vain. Shoaib Malik was also not comfortable in his brief stay which was ended by left arm spinner Taijul Islam who left him clueless with giving huge flight on the air. Comilla were left three for 48 and Bulls sensed a chance given the wicket wasnt conducive to the batsmen. But Shehzad was unperturbed by the dodgy nature of wicket. He was assured and looked certain to know when to go on berserk. He just needed a partner at other end which he duly got in Ashar Zaidi. They combined for an unbeatable 58 runs to sail the side home eventually. For the consecutive second day, Chris Gayle failed to live up to his reputation as Barisal Bulls tasted second consecutive defeat. Gayle once again made eight before being dismissed as the first batsman. This massive wicket changed the whole body language of the Victorians bowlers and fielders. They didnt let loose the things that even left a free stroke-maker Evin Lewis huffing and puffing for runs. Lewis eventually made 15 while Rony Talukdar chipped in with 19. But Victorians came on top, reeling them to 45 for four before Mamudullah Riyad and Sabbir Rahman Rumman consolidated. As they were stubborn, Mashrafes mantra was simple: to force them eat up dots balls, a trick that beautifully worked as it strangled the scoreboard. Riyad was the highest scorer with 27 ball-27 and got dismissed when he tired to go onslaught. Sabbir scored 17 off 21. However Sekugge Prasannas fluent 15 eventually helped them go past 100. Ashar Zaidi was the most successful bowler for Victorians with two for 12. SCOREBOARD Barisal Bulls innings: C Gayle lbw b Malik 8 E Lewis c Malik b Stevens 15 Rony c Kayes b Zaidi 19 Mehedi b Zaidi 0 M Riyad b Haider 26 Sabbir b Rabbi 17 S Prasanna not out 15 R Emrit not out 2 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 105 Did not bat: Al-Amin Hossain, Sajedul Islam, Taijul Islam Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-40, 3-42, 4-45, 5-88, 6-88 BOWLING O M R W S Malik 4 0 15 1 Shuvagata 2 0 18 0 Abu Haider 4 0 26 1 D Stevens 4 0 9 1 Ashar Zaidi 4 0 12 2 KI Rabbi 2 0 24 1 Comilla Victorians innings: Liton c Sabbir b Sajedul 0 I Kayes c Rony b Al-Amin 0 A Shehzad not out 76 S Malik st Rony b Taijul 8 Ashar Zaidi not out 20 Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2 Total: (3 wickets; 17.3 overs) 106 Did not bat: D Stevens, Shuvagata, A Kapali, Mashrafe, KI Rabbi, Abu Hider. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-48. BOWLING O M R W Sajedul 3 0 18 1 Al-Amin 3 0 11 1 R Emrit 3 0 15 0 Taijul 4 0 32 1 S Prasanna 2.3 0 22 0 M Riyad 2 0 7 0