Defending champions Comilla Victorians sealed a top two spot in the Bangladesh Premier League with a six-wicket win over table-toppers Rangpur Riders in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Tuesday.
The Victorians will now lock horns with the Riders in Sunday’s Qualifier 1 in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Sunday’s Eliminator will see Chattogram Challengers take on either fourth placed Fortune Barishal or Khulna Tigers in fifth.
Friday’s last matchday of the league phase at the home of cricket will determine the fourth and final playoff side with Barishal facing Comilla in the afternoon game and Khulna rounding things off later against Sylhet Strikers.
Barishal are in prime position as they have 12 points to Khulna’s 10, and also a superior net run rate of +0.4 compared to the Tigers’ -0.4.
Only a heavy Barishal defeat and convincing Khulna win will see Anamul Haque’s team sneak into the playoffs.
Asked to bat first, Rangpur were all out for 150 with a delivery to spare; Jimmy Neesham top-scoring with an unbeaten 42-ball 69, studded with nine fours and a couple of sixes.
Player of the match Andre Russell put in an all-round display as he bagged 3/20 before hammering a scarcely believable 12-ball 43 not out, laced with four fours and as many sixes, as the Victorians romped home with 14 deliveries remaining.
Captain Liton Das also starred for Comilla with 43, Mahidul Islam Ankon chipped in with 39 while young Musfik Hasan topped the Victorians bowling chart with 3/18.
Shakib led the Riders bowling with 3/20 after scoring a 19-ball 24.
40TH MATCH
Rangpur Riders 150 in 19.5 overs (Neesham 69*, Musfik 3/18) lost to Comilla Victorians 151/4 in 17.4 overs (Russell 43*, Liton 43) by 6 wickets