The wicket continued being puzzling but Marlon Samuels played a graceful innings to take Comilla Victorians on top in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
In what was being termed as tricky wicket, Samuels struck an unbeaten 24 ball-42 to steer Victorians a crushing a nine-wicket win over Rangpur Riders yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The platform was laid by yet another gem of pace bowling from Victorians Sri Lankan recruit Nuwan Kulasekara who claimed his career best four for 12 to skittle Riders out for just 82 in 20 overs. With Samuels tearing apart the bowlers, defying the panic of wicket, Victorians raced to the victory in just 11.5 overs, losing the wicket of Mahmudul  Hasan. Thereby they strengthened the run rate in addition of securing third straight victory after the meek surrender to Dhaka Dynamites in the first match.
That only two batsmen of Riders reached the double figure would tell the tale of the match. Misbah-ul-Haque led the side in absence of Shakib Al Hasan who was banned for one match due to his abusive words to the umpire in the last match. Shakib’s absence badly affected in both batting and bowling as the other batsmen and bowlers failed to step out in the face of adversity.
Kulasekara jolted the top order heavily, removing openers- Lendl Simmons and Soumya Sarkar in single digit figure in the consecutive deliveries of his first over.
Abu Haider Rony, Ashar Zaidi and Sunil Narine also made their impact as Riders’ batsmen lacked audacity to break the shackle. They were too much occupied by the wicket’s demon with no batsmen dared to defy the scare. Kulasekara got back his second spell with the wicket of Mohammad Mithun, the highest scorer of Victorians with 28. He completed his four-for, taking out compatriot Sachitra Senanayake.
 Victorians bowling was complemented by the electrifying fielding of the fielders who effected two run-out to pile host of misery of Riders.
In a pitch where Riders batsmen struggled to bat, Victorians opener added 29 in five overs before Arafat Sunny dismissed Mahmudul Hasan for 11. Marlon Samuels then showed on how the batsman should play in this kind of wicket. He played out some dot balls before bursting at the expense of Abu Jayed Rahi who leaked 23 runs in his first over. Samuels alone took 22 runs, including four fours and one six. He finally struck one six and eight fours, last of which he cut past the short third man to the fence and earned a nine-wicket victory with 49 balls remaining. Imrul Kayes was 24 not out.
It was Rangpur’s second defeat in five matches. They have six points, same like Comilla who played one match less then Riders but by virtue of better run-rate claimed the top spot for the time being.