Sports Reporter :
Sylhet Strikers earned a narrow 12-run win over Comilla Victorians in the 37th match of the Ispahani Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, the port city of the country on Monday.
After yesterday’s outcome, Sylhet Strikers bagged eight points from 11 matches, while Comilla Victorians gained 14 points from 10 matches.
Electing to bat first, Sylhet Strikers piled up a fighting total of 177 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Comilla to 165 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Sylhet Strikers had an auspicious start with two openers Kennar Lewis and Zakir Hasan put on together 40 runs in the opening stand before Zakir (18) was caught & bowled by Sunil Narine.
Kennar Lewis was dismissed by Musfik Hasan when Sylhet’s score was 67 for the loss of two wickets.
Third-down Mohammad Mithun and fourth-down Benny Howell built the most remarkable partnership scoring together 77 runs in the five-wicket stand before Mohammad Mithun was trapped leg before wicket by Sunil when Sylhet’s total was 151 for the loss of five wickets.
Benny remained unbeaten with 62 runs. He cracked four sixes and six fours in his 31-ball windy innings. Later, Benny Howell picked up one wicket for 36 runs. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning performance.
Lewis made 33 from 25 deliveries featuring two sixes and two fours.
Mithun scored 28 from 20 balls including two sixes and one four.
Sunil and Rishad Hossain captured two wickets each instead of 16 and 37 runs respectively.
Musfik Hasan got one wicket conceding 32 runs.
Comilla Victorians lost their early two wickets for 39 runs.
Opener Litton Das and Johnson Charles mended the innings contributing together 79 runs for the third wicket partnership before Charles (12) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Mithun off Shafiqul Islam when Comilla’s total was 118 for the loss of three wickets.
Third-down Moeen Ali (0) was bowled out by Benny Howell when Comilla’s score was 127 for the loss of four wickets.
Litton Das was bowled out by Tanzim Hasan when Comilla’s score was 153 for the loss of five wickets.
Litton hit a superb 85. He hit three sixes and seven fours in his 58-ball knock. It is his career best score in BPL Cricket.
After Litton’s departure, Comilla batters failed to make any notable partnership.
Tanzim Hasan grabbed three wickets in the space of 33 runs.
Samit Patel and Shafiqul Islam took one wicket each for 15 and 18 runs respectively.
