Imrul shines as Comilla beat Barishal
|| CF DESK ||
Imrul Kayes hit consecutive fifty as Comilla Victorians beat Fortune Barishal by four wickets to seal their first win in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Barishal made an impressive start with the ball, restricting their opponents to 161 for nine.
Dunith Wellalage played a pivotal role, dismissing Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Towhid Hridoy in consecutive deliveries during the fourth over. Shortly afterward, he claimed the crucial wicket of Litton Das.
In response, former Comilla skipper Imrul held the fort for his team until the 16th over with a resilient 41-ball 52.
However, once he departed, young Jaker Ali Anik stepped up, unleashing some powerful strokes to keep the target within reach.
In the final over, Matthew Forde's six and a four, requiring 13 runs, secured the victory for Comilla.
Earlier, Barishal's innings saw Soumya Sarkar providing crucial momentum after early wickets in the Powerplay. He took on the spinners aggressively, displaying strength to find the boundaries. Soumya managed a brisk 31-ball 42 before departing.
Mushfiqur Rahim also played a significant role, partnering with Soumya to contribute 66 runs off 45 deliveries for the fourth wicket.
Mushfiqur continued his excellent form with a 44-ball 62 before falling in the final over, contributing to Barishal's total of 161 for nine as he surpassed the 3000-run milestone, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament's history after Tamim Iqbal.