Barishal overcome Comilla to lead BPL race

Shakib Al Hasan's all-round performance and Munim Shahriar's blistering knock at the top guided Fortune Barishal in registering a 32-run win over Comilla Victorians in the opening game of the Sylhet leg of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today.

With five wins in eight games, Barishal find themselves on top of the table with 11 points while Comilla, with four wins in seven games, now have slipped to the second position with nine points.
 
After being sent in to bat first, Barishal posted 155 for five and in reply, Comilla were restricted to 123 for nine, courtesy of some tight bowling from Nayeem Hasan who picked up three wickets while Dwayne Bravo and Shakib scalped two wickets apiece.

Shakib removed both Comilla openers Imrul Kayes (1) and the in-form Liton Das (19) after which the Victorians kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite Mominul Haque top-scoring with a run-a-ball 30. 

Young Mahmudul Hasan Joy, batting at number four, was dismissed on five while overseas players Moeen Ali and Sunil Narine were unable to make an impact with the bat as well in the absence of Faf du Plessis in the playing eleven. 
 
Earlier, it was young Munim who, playing just his second game of the tournament, showed his big-hitting capabilities to give his side the necessary momentum despite Barishal losing opener Chris Gayle (10) early. Najmul Hossain Shanto (1) also departed cheaply but Munim made sure Barishal had piled up 53 runs in the Powerplay. 
 
The right-hander was eventually dismissed, becoming Moeen Ali's only victim, after scoring 45 off 25 balls, striking three sixes and four boundaries. 
 
Shakib then took the responsibility and stitched a 69-run fourth-wicket stand with young Towhid Hridoy. The ace performer, who scored his first fifty after 45 innings in the previous game, went on to register his second consecutive fifty off 35 balls, laced with two sixes and four boundaries. 
 
Hridoy had remained not out on 31 off 37 balls but the right-hander was unable to utilise the long handle in the latter stages as Barishal added just 38 runs off the last six overs of the innings.