Overseas players drive Comilla into final

Comilla Victorians' overseas stars Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis came up with decisive contributions to guide their side to the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) against Fortune Barishal with a thumping seven-wicket win over Chattogram Challengers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Narine showed the meaning of haste during a 16-ball 57 and by the time he departed to Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, the game had already tilted heavily in his side's favour. In chase of Chattogram's 148 all out, the man from Trinidad was on full flow from the off, hitting Shoriful Islam over cow corner for six to open his innings. Sent in to open the innings with Liton Das, who fell in that very first over to Shoriful, Narine picked off Mehedi Miraz for two back-to-back sixes, followed by a four, which was then followed by a magnificent six over cover as 23 runs came in just the second over of the chase.

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A six off Mrittunjoy in the final over of the Powerplay saw Narine pick up the fastest-ever fifty in the BPL, off just 13 deliveries to seize the record from Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad, who previously held the record with a 16-ball 50 against Duronto Rajshahi while playing for Barisal Burners in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2012. Narine was shy off hitting the fastest-ever fifty by any batter in T20s by just one delivery with the record still belonging to Yuvraj Singh, who had achieved the feat in 12 deliveries

But the power-hitting capabilities were on full show and Faf (30 off 23) and Moeen (30 off 13) did not let up as Comilla won in style. Narine was happy, knowing there was an opportunity even before the game started to get in his power-hitting mojo. "When I was told I'd open, I was delighted, especially with just 2 fielders outside the ring. It was a good wicket to bat on, not much spin, especially with the new ball, came on nicely. It was one of the best performances as a team, looking forward to the final," Narine said.

Chattogram batting has largely been carried by their English stars Will Jacks and Benny Howell throughout the ongoing BPL while other overseas star Chadwick Walton came up with vital runs just when they needed in the first Eliminator game against Khulna Tigers on Monday.

When all three failed to fire, they could only reach a middling score and that too was achieved due to Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Akbar Ali.

Jacks and Walton departed very early in the Chattogram innings and Howell's unfortunate run-out added to their woes.

Responsibility fell to local stars such as captain Afif Hossain and Shamim Hossain but Comilla's Moeen, who finished on 3 for 20, accounted for both in a tremendous spell as Chattogram slumped to 50 for five in eight overs.

Akbar's 20-ball 33 and Miraz's 38-ball 44, the duo contributing in a 61-run sixth-wicket stand, saw Chattogram reach a challenging score. The performances of the overseas stars held sway, however, Comilla's trio performed better. Comilla skipper Imrul Kayes' relief was apparent.

"It's a great feeling for us as a team, we were down after the last match, everyone was sad and shocked, we didn't expect to lose that game," he said at the post-match ceremony.