Comilla end campaign with win
Imrul, Rashid show mettle with bat and ball
Sports Reporter
Defending champions Comilla Victorians registered their fourth consecutive victory to end the BPL-4 with high as they sealed a narrow eight-run victory over Rangpur Riders in their last match yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The victory though gave Victorians which got their killer instinct at the moment when it mattered little, it left Riders waiting for the outcome of the match between Dhaka Dynamites and Khulna Titans. Only a defeat of Khulna now would give them a ticket of the super four spot. But the defeat of Riders came as blessings for Rajshahi Kings who now retained their third position to confirm the super four spots alongside Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings.
Comilla Victorians Afghanistan recruit Rashid Khan dealt a mighty blow to Riders aspiration even though they got a high flying start to chase down the opponents respectable total of 170 for six. But the leg-spinner Rashid Khan returned figures of three for 13 in fours overs to curb the aggression and rhythm of Riders batsmen halfway through the innings and eventually forced them to be restricted to 162 for eight.
Mohammad Shahzad made a whirlwind start in pursuit of the target of 171 albeit his opening partner Soumya Sarkar was not at his best. Shahzad rotated the scoreboard with a flurry of sixes and fours to keep the fielders busy. Amid the carnage of Shahzad, Comilla clawed back into the game, taking four wickets for just nine runs to subdue Riders.
Nabil Samad drew the blood first, removing Soumya for five, bringing an end to the 48-run partnership between him and Shahzad. Mashrafe then joined him taking two crucial scalps of inform Mohammad Mithun (2) and Shahzad who scored 45 off 31 with five fours and two sixes. In between Nabil dismissed Liam Dawson for 3 as Riders were reduced to 57 for four from 48 for no loss.
Shahid Afridi and Naeem Islam stabilised the innings as the former finally appeared to reinvigorate his usual attacking mode. His big hitting helped Riders hit back into the game but Rashid Khan came up with fire at this stage to take the match away.
Khan removed Naeem for 14 and in his next over shattered Riders hope completely by getting rid of the dangerman Afridi who smashed 38 off 19 with three fours and two sixes.
Ziaur Rahman held together the innings but Rashid Khans tight bowling kept asking run rate soaring. Even Ziaurs unbeaten 23 ball-38 wasnt enough to rescue the side.
Khans three wickets haul however was complemented by two wickets of Mashrafe and Nabil Samad.
Earlier, Comillas openers gave them a solid platform to make a big score. Imrul Kayes and Khalid Latif shared 88 runs in 10.2 overs. It came to an end with the dismissal of Kayes who hammered 35 ball-52 with seven fours and two sixes.
Khalid Latif was out on 43 off 30 after hitting three fours and two sixes.
After their dismissal, Marlon Samuels led the side heading towards a big scorer with 30 off 24.
Arafat Sunny and Rubel Hossain scalped two wickets apiece for Rangpur Riders.
