Comilla clinch BPL winning nail-biting final against Barishal
Sunil Narine stars as Comilla Victorians clinched the BPL 2022 title beating Fortune Barishal by 1 run in a nail-biting final in Mirpur Sher E Bangla National Stadium.
Replying to Comilla’s 151 for nine, Barishal fall short of just one run as pacer Shohidul Islam hold the nerve to take his team home.
Red-hot Narine scored a 23 ball-57 and took two important wickets of his compatriots Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo.
Barishal was well on course of victory despite losing in-form opener Munim Shariar early.
Shykat Ali and West Indian star Gayle built a 74-run partnership in the second wicket after Barishal had lost their first wicket on 5.
Shykat Ali scored a brilliant 58 off 34 balls and a wary Gayle scored 33 from 31 balls. Mustafizur Rahman took a brilliant catch in delivery by Tanvir Islam to ensure Shakib Al Hasan’s departure for a run a ball seven. A direct hit from Ariful Haque saw demise of Nurul Hasan Sohan with Barishal needing 19 runs in 21 balls. Naraine plumbed Dwayne Bravo in the following over lifting Comilla’s hope. The West Indian spinner conceded only 2 runs in 18th over building pressure on Barishal batters.
Mustafizur got Najmul Hossain Shanto in the penultimate over to turn the match in favor of Comilla.
Mustafizur conceded six runs his over, giving Shohidul 10 runs
to defend in the last over but the pair of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Towhid
Hridoy could score just 8 runs, BSS adds.
Barishal eventually were restricted to 150-8, in reply of Comilla's 151-9.
Ealier, Fresh from his marauding 16 ball-57 which included 13 ball-fifty,
Sunil Narine yet again came up with whirlwind batting and made another
57 runs but this time played 23 balls and hammered five fours and as
many sixes.
His epic show started right from the start as he blasted Mujeeb Ur
Rahman for 18 runs in the first over and continued in same vain like
the last match. Dwayne Bravo only could check his natural flamboyance,
resisting him from making another record.
Shakib Al Hasan gave the side first breakthrough, rattling the
stump of Liton Das for 4 with an arm ball but Narine's relentless
assault meant the scoreboard was rotated rapidly.
Narine finally got to his fifty off 21 balls and then struck
another six, indicating that he is perfectly placed for a quick
century. However in the next delivery he mistimed a slower of Mehedi
Hasan Rana to give a catch at long-off where Shanto held it with
perfect judgment and celebrated with wild dance.
Narine's onslaught gave Comilla 72 runs in the first six overs but
Barishal then took the control of the match gradually.
Mujeeb came back to his second spell to take the wicket of Faf du
Plessis for 4 and in doing so gave Comilla a massive setback as they
looked destined for a big total.
Dwayne Bravo got rid of Comilla captain Imrul Kayes for 12 and
Mujeeb again struck to dismiss Ariful Haque for duck to cause further
damage, leaving Comilla six down for 95 runs in the 11th over. After
losing Narine's wicket in the sixth over, Comilla could score only 26
runs for four wickets in the next five overs.
Moeen Ali and Abu Haider Rony then resisted and put on 54-run for
the seventh wicket to propel the side past 150. Moeen hit two fours
and one six for his 32 ball-38 before being run out in the last over
while Rony made 19.
Comilla might have scored some more runs but they lost three
wickets in the last over, bowled by Shafiqul Islam to be contended
with 151.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Shafiqul Islam took two wickets apiece while
Bravo, Shakib and Rana claimed one wicket each.
Sunil Narine was adjudged the player of the final while Shakib Al Hasan became player of the tournament.