Comilla deal mighty blow to Barisal
Sports Reporter
Comilla Victorians dealt a mighty blow to Barisal Bulls aspiration of keeping the top-four race alive in BPL-4, outplaying them by eight wickets yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
With just six points in 10 matches, Bulls still might feel that they have a chance mathematically but for that they need some miracle. It was the second victory in nine matches for Victorians who were eliminated from the race earlier.
But after showing a disastrous batting almost all through the tournament, Comillas reshuffled top order finally found the way to drive the side in winning mode which didnt come as good for Bulls who needed this victory badly.
Bulls recovered from 92 for seven to score 142 for eight, largely due to their lower orders whirlwind batting but Victorians gunned it down quite comfortably, making 145 for two in 19 overs.
Openers Imrul Kayes and Ahmed Shehzad paved the platform of a big victory, having combined for a 93-run partnership in 12.5 overs after which it was a one-sided affair.
Kayes dominated thepartnership, hitting the balls around the corner with confidence and power, something that was missing in their arsenal in the previous matches. His ultra-aggressive mood, coupled by the resilient batting of Shehzad raised the prospect of Victorians all wicket victory but Dawid Malan halted the progress against the flow of the game.
It was the mistake of Kayes who actually mistimed while going for a pull off Malan that ended the 35 ball-46 runs knock. He hit six fours and one six in the innings.
Back to the fold after four matches, Marlon Samuels showed a positive intent but Shehzad was undone by a slower form Rumman Raees after scoring 61 off 56, sending the ball across the rope for five times.
Samules then helped the side canter to the victory with consecutive six and four and remained unbeaten on 27 off 18.
After opting to bat first, Bulls were strangled by Victorians captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who delivered an excellent economical two overs spell. His early pressure helped Shahadat Hossain Rajib, playing his first competitive cricket since being arrested for the charge of assaulting 11-year old housemaid, to reap the reward.
Shahadat broke through the Bulls with the wicket of Dilshan Munaraweera, executing a slower delivery perfectly. Jeevan Mendis and Dawid Malan kept the scoreboard ticking until Saifuddin got the latter for nine.
The spinners then came to the fore with Nabil Samad and Rashid Khan tormenting the batsmen with their accuracy. Samad got rid of Mendis for 28 but Mushfiqur Rahim held together the innings of Bulls.
However Rashid and Samad, in a joint venture, kept taking wickets amid Mushfiqurs resistance. And when Samad ended Mushfiqurs resistance after he scored 29 off 23, Victorians got a chance to bowl Bulls out for a paltry total.
The lower order stood tall and helped the side amass 42 runs in the last three overs to throw a challenge to Comilla batsmen who looked fragile in previous matches. But their reshuffled batting line up showed Bulls what they are capable of.
Nabil Samad was adjudged man of the match for his intriguing spell of 4-0-17-3 while Victorians Afghanistan recruit Rashid Khan returned figures of two for 21.
