Tamim Iqbal-led Comilla Victorians took a solo lead in the seven–team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 Cricket beating Shakib-Al Hasan’s Dhaka Dynamites by four wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Mirpur on Monday. 

With day’s well-merited win, Comilla Victorians for the first time took a solo lead in the league securing 10 points from six matches while Dhaka Dynamites, with the day’s defeat, went down to the 2nd slot with nine points from seven outings, reports the UNB.     

Batting first after winning the toss, league leader Dhaka Dynamites was dismissed cheaply for 128 runs in 18.3 overs despite of 76 runs by West Indian opening batsman Sunil Narine against devastating bowling by Pakistani medium pacer Hasan Ali.

Hasan Ali made the first breakthrough in Dhaka Dynamites innings bowling out two openers—Evin Lewis (7) and Mehedi Maruf (0)—for only 12 runs in span of only two balls. He clean bowled West Indian Evin Lewis in the first ball and later dismissed Mehedi Maruf in the 3rd ball of the first over.

When Dhaka Dynamites were struggling only 12 runs for 2 in 1.3 overs, then West Indian opener Sunil Narine pairing with former Sri Lankan captain Kumara Sangakkar repaired the early damage contributing 92 runs in the 3rd wicket stand to carry team to 104 runs from 12.

Sunil Narine quickfired the match highest 76 runs off just 45 balls featuring seven fours and five sixes while Kumara Sangkkara scored 30-ball 28 runs hitting three boundaries, were the only batsmen reaching the double figures. 

After the departure of two reliable batsmen Kumara Sangakkar for 104 for 3 in 12.5 overs felt victim of run out and Sunil Narine for 114 for 4 in 13.4 overs, caught by Tamim Iqbal off Mohammad Saifuddin delivery, Dhaka Dynamites surprisingly lost remaining six wickets for only 14 runs to bundle out for 128 runs.        

Pakistani Hasan Ali, who made early breakthrough dismissing two openers cheaply, also cut the Dhaka Dynamites tail bowled out Mosaddaek Hossain (1), Mohammad Saddam (1) and Abu Hider Rony (0).

Hasan Ali emerged as the top wicket taker of the match grabbing five wickets for 20 runs in his 3.3 overs and was adjudged the man of the match while Mohammad Saifuudin claimed two wickets for 29 runs and Rashid Khan took one for 17 runs.

In reply, Comilla Victorians reached their target scoring the match-winner 129 runs for loss of six wickets with two balls to spare (19.4 overs) with two down Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik hammering the team’s highest not out 54 runs off 53 balls with four fours and one six.

Besides, national opener Imrul Kayes scored 24-ball 20 runs with two boundaries, captain cum opening batsman Tamim Iqbal made nine-ball 18 runs with two fours and a six, DM Bravo 11-ball 12 runs with two fours while JC Buttler scored run a ball 11.

Sunil Narine, who contributed the teams highest 76 runs, also displayed his brilliance in bowling too claiming two wickets for 17 runs. Pakistani Mohammad Amir also took two for 28 runs and Abu Hider Rony captured one for 25 runs.