Comilla Victorians rose to the top of the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League points table after sealing a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Rangpur Riders in Friday's afternoon match at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Marlon Samuels, featuring in his last game for Comilla before his departure to the West Indies, remained unbeaten on 42 off 24 balls with the help of eight fours and a six to enable his side to their small victory target of 83.
The hard-hitting batsman hammered 23 runs, including four boundaries and a six, in the 10th over bowled by Abu Jayed Rahi to take the Victorians ever so close to their target while Imrul Kayes remained undefeated on 24.
Earlier, it was former Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq who came out for the toss in place of their captain Shakib al Hasan, who was suspended for a match after the all-rounder misbehaved with the on field umpire during their previous game against Sylhet Super Stars.
And Comilla skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza did not hesitate to field first after winning the toss with paceman Nuwan Kulasekara bowling exceptionally well for Rangpur. The Sri Lankan paceman ended up with figures of 4/12 from his four overs while young left-arm paceman Abu Haider bagged two wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Mithun was the highest scorer with 28 runs while Saqlain Sajib
added 11 as none of the other Rangpur batsmen were able to reach double figures.
Dashing Tigers batsman Soumya Sarkar continued his miserable run in the BPL as the left-hander was dismissed after scoring only five runs. By the look of things, Rangpur surely missed the services of their skipper in both the batting and bowling department.
Comilla Victorians Players List
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Ariful Haque, Imrul Kayes, Nuwan Kulasekara, Mahmudul Hasan, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santoke, Shuvagata Hom, Sunzamul Islam, Abu Hider, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Liton Das, Naeem Islam, Marlon Samuels, Shoaib Malik, Darren Stevens, Lahiru Thirimanne, Al Farabi
Rangpur Riders Players List
Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Arafat Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Marshall Ayub, Mohammad Mithun, Kevin O’Brien, Raqibul Hasan, Saqlain Sajib, Lendl Simmons, Wahab Riaz, Abu Jayed, Qiunton de Kock, Jubair Hossain, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nabi, Murad Khan, Thisara Perera, Darren Sammy, Sachitra Senanayeke, Soumya Sarkar, Muktar Ali, Rasel Al Mamun, Md Al Amin, Nazmul Hossain.
