Comilla complete Ctg double

Comilla Victorians registered their third consecutive win, the second over Chittagong Vikings, this time by six wickets, in a Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

With this win Comilla Victorians jumped into the second position behind holders Dhaka Dynamites. But the second match under lights was an anticlimax after a thrilling first game that Dhaka won against Khulna Titans in the last over.

The Victorians were never in trouble in chasing down a modest target of 140 with 11 balls to spare with Imrul Kayes, who is in fine form, top-scoring with 45 off 36 balls that included two fours and three sixes, one of which over deep mid-wicket to a Chris Jordan length delivery was a treat to watch.

But the left-hander was unable to finish it off just like English opener Jos Butler, who was dismissed with his side only six runs away from victory. The right-hander scored a 31-ball 44 with three fours and two sixes.

Playing his first competitive game since his injury during the South Africa tour, Tamim Iqbal failed to make an immediate impact. He skied a short delivery from off-spinner Dilshan Munaweera after scoring four while his opening partner Liton Das once again threw his wicket after a confident 21.

Earlier, Chittagong made a flying start after being asked to bat, adding 46 runs in the first five overs. But they lost the way in the middle and scored just 49 runs in the next ten overs, which was the biggest downfall of the innings.

Kiwi opener Luke Ronchi struck a magnificent six over long-on in the first over off Mohammad Nabi but was eventually trapped leg-before to Saifuddin when he misjudged the line going for a flick after scoring 31 off 19 balls including five fours.

Soumya Sarkar, who struggled to time the ball, eventually departed while coming down the track against Nabi. The left-hander was stumped by Liton after scoring 30 off 32 balls with two fours and a six.

Munaweera was undone by a Rashid Khan googly which broke the middle-stump into two pieces. He scored a sedate 25-ball 19.  Sikandar Raza also perished while trying to break the shackles placed by the disciplined Comilla attack. He scored 20 off 24 balls.

There was hardly any fire power in the lower half of the Chittagong batting and they eventually ended up with 139 for 4 after their share of 20 overs.

It was Chittagong's third defeat in four games and they now remain at the bottom of the seven-team table alongside Rajshahi Kings.