Late rally by Comilla in BPL

Marlon Samuels hit an unbeaten 55 as Comilla Victorians registered their third victory, second in a row, in BPL-4 crashing Rajshahi Kings by eight wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday.The victory gave Comilla a slim hope of reviving the top four race mathematically albeit it would rely on many ifs and buts. They have now six points in 10 matches while Rajshahi have 10 in as many matches. Rangpur Riders also have 10 in 10 while Barisal Bulls have six in 10 matches. Dhaka Dynamites are already through with 14 points while Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans with 12 points are in advantageous position to seal the top four spots.  Rajshahi Kings tasted a batting debacle for the second match in a row in as many days and huffed and puffed their way to post 124 for seven. Comilla comfortably gunned down the target with eight balls to spare.
A 90-run partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Marlon Samuels scripted the victory with ease even though Comilla had a slow start. Mehedi Hasan Miraj removed Imrul Kayes for 9 to leave Comilla 16 for one and Rajshahi sensed a victory like previous match, defending a small total.
But Shehazad and Samuels shattered their hopes. Despite going slowly initially, they paced the scoreboard as the time progressed. The turning moment of the match came when Samuels smashed three successive sixes off Mehedi to score 20 runs in an over. From that point, it was a one-sided affair as Rajshahi never could raise the prospect of winning the match.
Shehzad was dismissed on 46 but Samuels sailed the side home remaining unbeaten on 55 off 41. He hit two fours and four sixes in his knock.
Unlike the previous match, Rajshahi made a solid start with Mominul Haque and Nurul Hasan Hossain sharing 38 runs in five overs.
Comilla’s Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan gave the breakthrough, removing Mominul Haque for 20 with a quicker delivery before the pair caused more damage.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza then sparked the collapse, taking out Nurul Hasan Sohan for 17.
The team was relied on Sabbir Rahman to hold together the innings and the man himself, playing the match after the shocking news of being penalised for off-field disciplinary issue, needed to turn the shameful incident with a positive performance in batting.
He, however, could not make any lasting impression being dismissed on 8 and Comilla kept pushing on.
Mohammad Saifuddin was the wrecker-in-chief claiming three for 12, including consecutive wickets of Mehedi Hasan Miraj (7) and Darren Sammy (0).
After the batting debacle in the previous match, Mehedi and Farhad Reza rescued the side with two 40 plus knocks but this time none of them could stand tall. Reza was out on 13.
But it was the heroics of Rajshahi’s New Zealand recruit James Franklin who helped the side propel past 100, taking 24 runs in the last over with three towering sixes. He finally remained unbeaten on 44 off 31 with two fours and three sixes.

 

 

Late rally by Comilla in BPL

Marlon Samuels hit an unbeaten 55 as Comilla Victorians registered their third victory, second in a row, in BPL-4 crashing Rajshahi Kings by eight wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital yesterday.The victory gave Comilla a slim hope of reviving the top four race mathematically albeit it would rely on many ifs and buts. They have now six points in 10 matches while Rajshahi have 10 in as many matches. Rangpur Riders also have 10 in 10 while Barisal Bulls have six in 10 matches. Dhaka Dynamites are already through with 14 points while Chittagong Vikings and Khulna Titans with 12 points are in advantageous position to seal the top four spots. Rajshahi Kings tasted a batting debacle for the second match in a row in as many days and huffed and puffed their way to post 124 for seven. Comilla comfortably gunned down the target with eight balls to spare. A 90-run partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Marlon Samuels scripted the victory with ease even though Comilla had a slow start. Mehedi Hasan Miraj removed Imrul Kayes for 9 to leave Comilla 16 for one and Rajshahi sensed a victory like previous match, defending a small total. But Shehazad and Samuels shattered their hopes. Despite going slowly initially, they paced the scoreboard as the time progressed. The turning moment of the match came when Samuels smashed three successive sixes off Mehedi to score 20 runs in an over. From that point, it was a one-sided affair as Rajshahi never could raise the prospect of winning the match. Shehzad was dismissed on 46 but Samuels sailed the side home remaining unbeaten on 55 off 41. He hit two fours and four sixes in his knock. Unlike the previous match, Rajshahi made a solid start with Mominul Haque and Nurul Hasan Hossain sharing 38 runs in five overs. Comillas Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan gave the breakthrough, removing Mominul Haque for 20 with a quicker delivery before the pair caused more damage. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza then sparked the collapse, taking out Nurul Hasan Sohan for 17. The team was relied on Sabbir Rahman to hold together the innings and the man himself, playing the match after the shocking news of being penalised for off-field disciplinary issue, needed to turn the shameful incident with a positive performance in batting. He, however, could not make any lasting impression being dismissed on 8 and Comilla kept pushing on. Mohammad Saifuddin was the wrecker-in-chief claiming three for 12, including consecutive wickets of Mehedi Hasan Miraj (7) and Darren Sammy (0). After the batting debacle in the previous match, Mehedi and Farhad Reza rescued the side with two 40 plus knocks but this time none of them could stand tall. Reza was out on 13. But it was the heroics of Rajshahis New Zealand recruit James Franklin who helped the side propel past 100, taking 24 runs in the last over with three towering sixes. He finally remained unbeaten on 44 off 31 with two fours and three sixes.