Towhid Hridoy continued his rich vein of form as Sylhet Strikers secured their third straight victory in the ninth edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), thrashing defending Champions Comilla Victorians by 5 wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.
Following his 34 ball-55 which propelled Sylhet to a six-wicket win against Barishal a day go, Hridoy this time smashed a 37 ball-56, with three fours and four sixes as Sylhet effortlessly overhauled Comilla’s 149-6, making 150-5 with 14 balls to spare.
Hridoy however didn’t have to bat in Sylhet’s eight-wicket win over Chattogram in the first game.
After a 34-run defeat to Rangpur Riders in the first game, the reigning champions Comilla looked to tighten the grip, dismissing Sylhet’s Pakistan recruit Haris for 6. Haris replaced Netherland’s Colin Ackerman who was dismissed in single digit figure in the first two matches of Sylhet.
If the dismissal gave Comilla any hope, Hridoy’s counterattack quickly dashed it. He came down heavily on the bowlers, helping the side maintain a healthy asking rate which later proved to be decisive as Sylhet lost some quick wickets following his dismissal.
Comilla’s Pakistan recruit Khushdil Shah struck twice, firstly getting rid of Najmul Hossain Shanto after he made 19 off 21 with two fours and one six. And then he had Hridoy stumped by Liton Das, bringing the side briefly back in the contest.
But young Zakir Hasan who also impressed in the last match, showed his big hitting prowess once again, clobbering a 20 off 10 with one four and two sixes.
Afghan recruit Mohammad Nabi dealt a double blow in the space of nine balls, removing Zakir and Thisara Perera (8) as Sylhet were just 12 runs away from the wicket with plenty of balls being left.
Mushfiqur Rahim (28*) and Akbar Ali (6*) sailed the side home with the latter signing off the game with a boundary.
Another youngster Jaker Ali Anik was instrumental in Comilla’s moderate total after they were asked to bat first. Jaker hammered an unbeaten 57 off 43 with two fours and three sixes as Comilla snapped the streak of low-score in the first match of the day in this season’s BPL. Earlier the total of batting first team in BPL’s first match in the last two days was 89 and 113.
To Comilla’s dismay, their star batter Liton Das failed to click again, being out on 8 while another star England’s Dawid Malan made a slow start but couldn’t amend it as he was removed for 37 off 39.
Jaker gave the side a pace that was needed but hardly got support from the other end.
Thisara Perera and Mohammad Amir took two wickets apiece for Sylhet while captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Imad Wasim picked up one wicket each.
