Mashrafe bin Mortaza’s Comilla Victorians emerged as the first team to confirm a semi-final slot – last four – in the third Bangladesh Premier League yesterday. Their sixth win in eight attempts came in the form of a seven-wicket victory over Barisal Bulls, who slipped to third in the standings with 10 points.
The tricky Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium pitch once again offered a lot of purchase for the bowlers. The Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis combination failed to amaze yet again as Barisal crawled above the hundred-run mark despite losing only six wickets.
Ahmed Shehzad replied with a valiant unbeaten 76 to single-handedly anchor the win with 15 balls and seven wickets to spare as Comilla’s decision after winning the toss paid rich dividends.
The Tigers skipper is still suffering from a Grade 1 tear on his left hamstring and as a result of the owners believing that his presence in the middle is enough, for the second match in a row Mashrafe took the centre just to guide the side.
With the left-handed West Indian duo opening the innings, Mashrafe operated with off-spinners Shoaib Malik and Shuvagata Hom as Lewis entertained the crowd when he smacked a four and a six off the latter’s first over.
Malik had Gayle leg-before wicket for eight in the fourth over and took a brilliantly judged skier, running in around 20 yards from the mid-wicket rope, in the ninth over by Darren Stevens to dismiss Lewis for 15. Barisal went into hibernation for the next 12 overs, scoring just 64 runs as they reached 105 with Seekkuge Prasanna not out on 15 from 12 balls.
Pace bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi played his first match after recovering from a broken left thumb, but the right-armer still looked sore in the two overs he bowled. He went for 24 runs and picked up the wicket of Sabbir Rahman, who was outfoxed with a back-of-the-hand slower delivery from the Barisal-born lad.
The match however, was still not secured for Comilla as BPL 2015 has been very unpredictable as far as the performances are concerned. Liton Kumar Das’ departure in the first ball off Sajedul Islam and Imrul Kayes’ dismissal for a duck in the fourth over might have also created a little panic in the Comilla dressing room, but the Pakistani trio – Malik, Ashar Zaidi and Shehzad – ensured a comfortable journey to the end.
Malik made only eight but was crucial in partnering Shehzad for 38 runs, which stabilised the innings before Zaidi, who took 2/12 earlier, played a little cameo to complete the win in 17.3 overs.
Zaidi scored 20 during the 58-run partnership with his compatriot Shehzad, who dominated the Barisal bowlers by hammering 10 fours and a six in his 63-ball innings.