Khulna Titans registered their third victory in the fourth match of  BPL-4, defending a below par total yet again on their way to seal a 13-run victory over Comilla Victorians yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital. Despite having a whirlwind start, Khulna were restricted to 144 for nine but their bowlers amended it by bowling tremendously to hold Victorians back to 131 for nine. The defeat gave Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-led Comilla the third successive defeat while Khulna goes on top of the point table with six points in four matches.
Liton Das launched Victorians’ chase of 145 with two boundaries in the first over but perished to a rash shot while repeating the feat. His opening partner Imrul Kayes revived the hope with attacking batting but he too fell for a needless shot after scoring 21 off 16. Marlon Samuels then held together the innings amid the wickets tumbling around him as Khulna bowlers kept the pressure. Shafiul Islam, however, sliced the middle order including the wicket of Marlon Samuels who was deceived by a delivery that kept low. Samuels scored highest 30 off 34 with two fours and a six.
Samuels’s dismissal virtually brought an end to the hopes of Comilla who needed a victory desperately. Shafiul and Junaid Khan claimed two apiece for 19 and 24 runs respectively.
Titans made a quick start to head towards a big total but Mashrafe’s three for 26 in four overs effectively routed their way in the halfway through the game.
In the last three matches they played, Titans batsmen fared poorly which forced them to reshuffle their batting order. And it paid off as the new opening pair of Andre Fletcher and Hasanuzzaman gave them a start they were craving for. They shared 45 runs in 4.4 overs before Mashrafe brought an end to the partnership by removing Fletcher who made 23 off 17.
Mashrafe, who conceded 10 runs in the first over, then curbed the aggression of the batsmen, maintaining a nagging line and length. He reaped the rewards for his disciplined bowling, dismissing Shuvagata Hom for 16 and Hasanuzzaman for 37.
Hasanuzzaman was increasingly dangerous and solely drove the innings but Mashrafe got him to strangle Khulna. When he was removed, Khulna still was in good position with 99 for three in 12.2 overs. Such was his impact that Khulna could make just 45 off next 46 balls after his dismissal. Hasanuzzaman hit six fours in the 30 balls he faced.  
While Mashrafe Bin Mortaza set the platform, Nazmul Hossain Shanto took the advantage by taking big wicket of Mahmudullah for 11. His dismissal ensured Khulna wouldn’t go far despite having a fluent start. Shanto and Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan then bowled some tight overs while Sohail Tanvir resisted Khulna batsmen in the death overs to raise the prospect of Comilla’s maiden victory in this edition of the tournament but that went in vein. Sohail Tanvir returned figures of three for 19 while Shanto claimed two for nine.