Narine stars as Comilla outclass Barishal to clinch BPL title

Comilla Victorians clinched their third Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title riding by Sunil Narine’s all-round performance which help them to win the nerve-wracking final by one run over Fortune Barishal at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Narine powered a 23 ball-57 before claiming two wickets for 15 runs from four overs but most importantly he conceded only two runs in the 18th over that titled the game towards Comilla.

Comilla is the only team after Dhaka who won the BPL trophy thrice under the same franchise.

Besides, it was Imrul Kayes’s second trophy as captain that made him only second captain after Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to win more than one BPL trophy.

Fortune Barishal needed 16 runs in the last two overs, which was at their reach but compact bowling from Mustafizur Rahman who bowled the penultimate over and Shohidul Islam denied Shakib Al Hasan-led side the title.

Mustafizur conceded six runs in his over, giving Shohidul 10 runs to defend in the last over but the pair of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Towhid Hridoy could score just 8 runs.

Barishal eventually were restricted to 150-8, in reply to Comilla’s 151-9.

Fresh from his marauding 16 ball-57 which included 13 ball-fifty, Sunil Narine yet again came up with whirlwind batting and made another 57 runs but this time played 23 balls and hammered five fours and as many sixes.

ARR