Twitter reacts as Perera and Afridi steer Comilla Victorians to an important win

A significant and important win for Comilla Victorians in context of their chase for a knockout spot as they thumped the hot favourites Dhaka Dynamites in a thrilling encounter. The balance kept shifting either side, but eventually, the hosts were shown the cold shoulder as Comilla won the game by seven runs.

Earlier on the day, Dynamites won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. Despite losing two early wickets, Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman stabilized the innings with a 51-run partnership for the third wicket. Tamim played the aggressor but runs didn’t come very quickly for their liking. After Tamim’s departure, Afridi took over the mantle and scored some quick runs to accelerate the innings.

Shamsur fell just two runs short of a well-deserved fifty, leaving big responsibility on the lower order to finish the innings well. The man who has been in great touch, Thisara Perera walked in and once again clobbered a few big sixes to help the Victorians go past the 150-run mark. Shakib Al Hasan picked up three wickets for the Dynamites giving away just 24 runs in his spell.

Russell magic not good enough for Dhaka

Sunil Narine gave the Dynamites a smacking start, stroking three boundaries early on. But wickets tumbling at the other end never got their innings going. Darwish Rasooli too got off to a flying start but the young Afghan could only hit a couple of sixes before departing for 19. With Dhaka in deep trouble, they needed some of their senior men to aid them.

Shakib knitted a crucial partnership from here alongside Andre Russell, who went berserk with the willow. Russell registered 46 runs off 24 balls, which includes two fours and five big sixes. One of the sixes he hit travelled a whopping 111 meters. The duo added 62 runs for the fifth wicket and they seemed well on track to register another win.

But the Dynamites crumbled quite uncharacteristically from this juncture with Russell and Shakib going back to the pavilion in quick succession. Shahid Afridi and Thisara Perera broke their back towards the end and help the Victorians register a 7-run win with their wonderful bowling spells.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Comilla’s incredible comeback win.

Shahid Afridi for u ❤️❤️❤️
Spell 4-0-18-2, with Bat 16 👏👏👏
Afridiz Night 😎 #BPL2019

— Khawar Sohail (@JuttAFRIDIAN) January 22, 2019

It's Afridi's day..!! Both @SAfridiOfficial and @iShaheenAfridi is on fire..!! In @Official_BPLT20 Shahid Afridi Bowling Superbly And In South Africa Shaheen Shah Afridi Doing The Same." #BPL #SAvsPAK

— Babar Azam (@ibabarazam258) January 22, 2019

Thisara Perera's incredible allround form continues as he scores 26 (12b, 6*3) and bowls 3-0-14-3 to win it for Comilla Victorians by 7 runs, Thisara dismissed danger man Andre Russel, also took 2 wkts for 5 runs in 17th over & 1 runs in 19th over. Played @PereraThisara 👏 #BPL

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) January 22, 2019

Shahid Afridi this BPL :
4-18-2,
4-32-0,
4-35-3,
4-15-1,
1-8-0,
4-10-3,
2-16-0,
4-29-1.
It's like he's never going to get finished. What consistency.

— arfan. (@Im__Arfan) January 22, 2019

Brilliant #ShahidAfridi Brilliant
4Overs 2Wickets Given 18 runs

— Salek Afridi (@SalekAfridi10) January 22, 2019

Thisara Perera in red hot form. Hope soo someone will select him in PSL.#BPL2019 #BPL @PereraThisara #PSL4

— Malik Usman (@Malikusman1145) January 22, 2019

Two afridi shining with the ball
shaheen 3 wickets
shahid afridi 4_0_18_2#afridi #BPL2019 #SAvPAK

— M Abbas (@ab_hey10) January 22, 2019

Shahid Afridi and Shaheen sha Afridi Both are On fire #BPL #CV #PakVsSA @SAfridiOfficial
@ShahenShaAfridi @TEAM_AFRIDI pic.twitter.com/FUmaM12thC

— Afridian/❤ (@Afridian102) January 22, 2019