BPL 2017, Match 35 Review: Comilla Victorians chase small target to remain on top of the table

Who said low-scoring matches cannot pack a punch in them? For all the sceptics, who begin to lose interest if the match is a low-scoring affair would’ve been in for a good surprise when Comilla Victorians took on Rangpur Riders at Dhaka on Saturday. On a pitch that proved to be a landmine for the batsmen and drew the ire of the captains of both sides, a tough contest took place. Comilla eventually won the match by 4 wickets to remain at the top of the points table.

Having won the toss, Comilla Victorians’ captain, Tamim Iqbal chose to bowl first and the match began to fall apart from the very beginning, itself. Openers, Chris Gayle (0) and Ziaur Rahman (0) were dismissed in quick succession by Mahedi Hasan in the second over, and from there on, there was stemming the blood flow of the Rangpur Riders. Wickets were picked up at regular intervals, rendering the Rangpur batsmen unable to construct a significant partnership. Only three players from the team, namely, Brendon McCullum (24), Mohammad Mithun (17) and Sohag Gazi (12) were able to achieve double-digit scores and only just, at that.

The pitch aided the bowlers unto no ends as the Comilla bowling attack demolished the opposition’s batting order through and through. Mahedi Hasan was the star bowler for the side as he picked up 4 crucial wickets while conceding just 22 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Mohammad Saifuddin bowled decently as well as he scalped 3 wickets at a slightly high economy of 7.3. With only nine boundaries and a lone sixer being hit throughout the 17.1 overs that the Rangpur Riders were able to bat, a meagre total of 98 runs was the target for the Comilla Victorians.

Comilla Victorians initially stumble at low target but make it eventually

Coming in to bat, opener Liton Das (3) failed, yet again, to make a mark. Comilla skipper, Tamim Iqbal (22) opened the innings for his team and looked all set to guide his team home before he was caught out by Nahidul Islam off the bowling of Sohag Gazi. What had looked to be an easy chase on the outset turned to a nightmare for the side batting second as Rangpur Riders’ bowlers made the most of the situation and conditions and gave their team a fighting chance, in spite of defending a meagre total.

Mashrafe Mortaza bowled a splendid spell as he picked up 3 wickets, followed by spinner, Nazmul Islam who picked up 2 himself. However, the total proved to be too frugal for Rangpur to defend in spite of the best efforts from their bowlers. A steady innings worth 20 runs off 24 deliveries from Shoaib Malik and a 16-run knock from Marlon Samuels negated the scare that Comilla would’ve got early on at losing quick wickets. The match went down to the very last over- an event not many would’ve foreseen, keeping in mind the paltry total of the first innings. Comilla eventually won the match by 4 wickets with 3 balls to spare and with this victory, they remain steady at the top spot of the points table.

Brief Scores

Rangpur Riders: 97/10 in 171.1 overs (Brendon McCullum 24, Mahedi Hasan 4/22)

Comilla Victorians: 100/6 in 19.3 overs (Tamim Iqbal 22, Mashrafe Mortaza 3/24)

Player of the match: Mahedi Hasan