Star power takes Comilla to final

Comilla Victorians have nous for big games with three BPL titles to their name and they made it through a crucial qualifier against title-contenders Sylhet Strikers on Sunday with a four-wicket win to make it to their fourth BPL final. It was Comilla's 10th win on the trot as their big names thwarted Sylhet at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Comilla had a plethora of talent from franchise cricket to bank on in this game while Sylhet, built on a budget, had depended on local players levelling up but, in the qualifier yesterday, things did not quite pan out as they were bowled out for just 125 after being sent to bat.

They lost three wickets early with Andre Russell sending back Afghan Shafiqullah Ghafari with his first delivery in the second over. Towhid Hridoy had been the go-to man in terms of building the innings but yesterday he fell to an unfortunate run-out, effected by Tanvir Islam, without scoring.

When Zakir Hasan, another of the youngsters Mashrafe Bin Mortaza counted upon throughout the tournament, departed for just two, Sylhet found themselves at three for 16 in the third over. It resulted in Mashrafe showing his nous for thinking of something out of the box and bringing himself on at number five.

Till the eighth over, Mashrafe and opener Najmul Hossain Shanto were able to put some of the pressure back on Comilla captain Imrul Kayes. However, Comilla had Sunil Narine to thank for putting in two economic overs to wrest back some control.

Mashrafe's pinch-hitting tactics paid dividends as the partnership contributed 56 runs but the former Bangladesh captain departed for a 17-ball 26 in the 10th over, going for another big shot against Russell. And after Tanvir struck twice in the next over, removing Shanto for 38 and Ryan Burl for a duck off back-to-back deliveries, Sylhet never really recovered.

The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim's 22-ball 29 saw them inch towards an average score but after he departed, the tail succumbed to Mustafizur Rahman as they were bowled out for 125 with 17 deliveries left.

In chase, Narine's carnage at the top during a 18-ball 39 almost ensured there will be no hiccups but when Comilla lost Liton Das, Narine and then Johnson Charles in successive overs, they found themselves in a spot of bother. The run-rate slowed down and skipper Imrul could not ensure they get over the ropes easily, falling for 13 with the score at 73 for four.

Moeen Ali had things under control during a 13-ball 21 but when Rubel Hossain, who earlier picked up Liton, removed Moin and then Jaker Ali for a duck in the 15th over, pressure was felt but a few missed opportunities from Mushfiqur, who dropped Russell, saw the moment slip away.

Russell took things on his stride and finished things off with two big sixes off Rubel to ensure a four-wicket win with Mosaddek Hossain at the other end remaining unbeaten on a run-a-ball 27.