Fortune Barishal registered a comprehensive 32-run victory over Comilla Victorians to lift themselves to top of the points table in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 2022.
Barishal posted 155 runs losing five wickets after being asked to bat first at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium riding on good batting effort from top-order.
Munim Shahriar came to open the innings with Chris Gayle and the opening stand put on 32 before the West Indian got caught at point after scoring 10 off eight balls.
The Universe Boss has not been at his impreious best in the BPL so far and his off-form continued.
Other opener Munim was brilliant at the other end as he struck some delightful shots all around the park to keep the scoreboard going along at a good rate.
The right-hander scored 45 off 25 balls with four fours and three sixes and missed a well-deserved half century when he lost his wicket in the last ball of the eighth over.
In-form Shakib al Hasan played another superb knock in the tournament and guided his team in the middle overs with another captain’s knock.
The star all-rounder made 50 off 37 deliveries with four boundaries and two sixers and put Barishal on course for a good total.
But Comilla bowlers bowled well in death overs and checked the run rate as, despite having a good start, Barishal managed to score 155 in their stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Comilla lost captain Imrul Kayes (one) early as Shakib struck in his very first over.
Shakib also picked up the crucial wicket of Liton Das in the fourth over as the wicketkeeper-batter was stumped after scoring 19 off 17.
Number three Mominul Haque scored a run a ball 30 and tried a bit to keep the momentum but no other Comilla batsmen scored enough to pull out the chase.
Eventually Comilla managed to score 123 for the loss of nine wickets.
Apart from Shakib, Nayeem Hasan bagged three wickets for Barishal while Dwayne Bravo took two.
Shakib was adjudged man of the match for his all-round brilliance - the third consecutive time he was named player of the match in BPL 2022.