Comilla into final as Narine’s blitzkrieg devours Ctg

Comilla Victorians registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Chattogram Challengers in the second Qualifier and reached the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Chasing a modest target of 149 runs, Comilla reached the target with 43 balls to spare, courtesy of Sunil Narine, who opened the innings. The West Indina smashed the fastest fifty in the history of BPL in just 13 deliveries.

Comilla will now take on Fortune Barishal in the final of the BPL on February 18. 

Despite losing opener Liton Das in the first ball of the innings, it was Narine who ripped apart the Chattogram bowlers right from the get-go during the chase. The West Indian smashed three sixes and a four to pile up 23 runs in the innings' second over bowled by Mehedi Hasan Miraz after striking a sixes and two fours to Shoriful Islam in the first over. 

Imrul Kayes added 79 runs for the second wicket alongside Narine, during which the Caribbean remained the dominant aggressor. Narine was eventually dismissed after a 16-ball 57, striking six sixes and five fours, after giving a return catch to Mrittunjoy Chowdhury but by then Comilla had managed to score 84 for 2 in the Power-play. 

Imrul was dismissed on 20 but overseas players Moeen Ali and Far du Plessis remained unbeaten on thirties and stitched an unbeaten 54-run stand for the fourth wicket to eventually wrap up an easy victory. 

Earlier, Chattogram were bundled out for 148 in 19.1 overs after electing to bat first. Miraz top scored with 44 off 38 balls, laced with two sixes and three fours.

Chattogram were reeling on 50 for five in eight overs before Miraz and Akbar Ali added 61 runs for the sixth wicket. Akbar was dismissed for an impressive 20-ball 33, which featured two sixes and as many fours. 

Mrittunjoy played a little cameo and struck two sixes to pacer Shohidul Islam in the 19th over to add 19 runs as Chattogram eventually posted a decent target for Comilla to chase. 

Moeen remained the pick of the bowlers for Comilla, bagging three important wickets while pacer Shohidul also scalped three as well.