Tamim finds form as Comilla fend off Khulna
Photo - BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
Opener Tamim Iqbal shrugged off his poor form with a superb 42 ball-73 as Comilla Victorians moved to the second spot in the BPL point table, fending off Khulna Titans by three wickets on Friday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Khulna compiled 181 for seven and expected to win their second straight victory but Tamim who finally found the Midas touch that was missing in the last five games proved to be a barrier in their aspiration.
He and Anamul Haque Bijoy combined for 115 runs in the opening stand to lay a solid platform, standing on which Comilla overhauled the target with two balls to spare, making 186 for seven.
Bijoy played a second fiddle to Tamim by hammering 40 off 37, studded with five fours.
Tamim looked destined to the first century of the tournament until Lasith Maling undid him with a slower delivery. Before that he smacked a dozen of boundaries and a six in his match-defining knock.
Bijoy and Shamsur Rahman (0) were removed in short space before skipper Imrul Kayes hit 11 ball-28 to keep the side on course. Khulna’s Pakistan pacer Juanid Khan then sparked a middle order collapse but Thisara Perera (18 not out) held his nerve to serenely drive the side home with a consecutive four and six.
Khulna made a horrendous start by losing opener Jahuru Islam Omee in the first over for naught but Junaid Siddique and young Al-Amin Hossain kept the runs flowing with identical approach.
Both of them matched each other with stroke playing to keep Comilla bowler at bay and by doing so, they shared 73 runs for the second wicket stand.
Shahid Afridi pegged back Khulna innings, dismissing Al-Amin who struck 32 off 19 and skipper Mahmudullah (16) in consecutive overs.
Junaid however found support in Dawid Malan as the due shared 50 runs for the fourth wicket to keep the side on track of 200 runs.
Junaid was run out while Laim Dawson’s direct hit found him well short from the crease while Afridi took out Malan (25) to dent the hope.
Junaid’s 41 ball-70 was laced with four fours and as many sixes. Comilla bowlers’ superb bowling at the death then kept Khulna Titans well short of 200. With excessive dew covering the ground, Comilla knew this target wouldn’t be tougher to chase.
And Tamim’s start made it easier despite a hiccup to script Khulna’s fifth defeat in six matches.
