COV VS SYL T20S

Right then, the Sylhet leg of the BPL 2024 is up and running and we have seen a couple of sides defend totals with ease. Next up is another doubleheader on Saturday, 27 January. The first game of the day will be between Chattogram Challengers and Fortune Barishal and it will begin at 1 pm IST (7.30 am GMT) and this will be followed by a contest between Duranto Dhaka and Rangpur Riders at 6 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT) at the very same stadium. As usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up of those games as well. Cheers!

The skipper of Comilla Victorians, Litton Das Litton Das says that it was one of the best games of his life and it was an amazing experience winning under these circumstances. He adds that 130 was not a good score according to the wicket. He says that they batted the Powerplay well but still kept on losing wickets which they would not want to repeat. He also says that the credit goes to the bowlers for putting up such a great show and getting them this important win.

Al Islam is the Player of the Match for his sensational bowling figures. He starts by thanking the Almighty and one of the coaches who kept faith in him. Adds that it was a low-scoring match and it was tough to bowl but his teammates told him that he could turn the game. Mentions that in 2019, he did pick up a hat-trick in this very stadium but was out of focus after that but he is now back in focus. Mentions that when you win a low-scoring match it feels good and their bowling lineup is capable of defending any total.

The Presentation ceremony...

Mashrafe Mortaza, the captain of Sylhet Strikers says that the bowling and fielding part were really good and it can't be any better than that, stopping the opposition at 130 on a good batting wicket. It was the batting that let them down tonight that too when it is easy chasing under lights with dew as a major factor. He adds that the whole team needs to have the belief that they can win and it's not just on one or two guys to have that thought process. He further says that they will look to get a few wins under their belt in the coming games and take it from there.

Earlier in the game, Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and put Comilla Victorians into bat first and his decision was well backed up by his bowlers. Ben Cutting got a big wicket early on and then Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled pretty well. With wickets tumbling down, Imrul Kayes tried to hit his way out of trouble and scored a crucial 30. Samit Patel and Mashrafe Mortaza bowled brilliant spells in the middle overs and the former picked up three wickets as well. However, the likes of Jaker Ali and Khushdil Shah just like they did in the last game, put on a fight and got the Victorians to 130 runs. Coming to the chase, it was one-way traffic apart from that one stand between Zakir Hasan and Ryan Burl.

Sylhet Strikers have now played three and lost three games but this particular game will hurt them the most. Having done all the hard work in the field, they pressed the self-destruct button with the bat. The ball was doing a lot but no one applied themselves and an unnecessary run out got them on the back foot. The top and upper middle order was ripped apart but Zakir Hasan held the fort for as long as he could. Ryan Burl gave him good support but just when it looked doable once again, both of them fell in the very same over. In the end, they were bundled out for just 78 runs, a sorry display with the bat for them.

One of the best displays you will see while defending a low total in the Bangladesh Premier League and that is why Comilla Victorians are the reigning champions. With just 130 runs on the board, they were down and out and playing in front of a vociferous crowd that was fully supporting Sylhet Strikers, the Victorians came up trumps with the ball. Matthew Forde got the ball to talk both ways early on and they got early wickets as well. It was Al Islam from the other end though who showed tremendous control and got our wickets as he bowled four overs on the go and got his side in a winning position. They did face a bit of resistance in the middle overs but a double blow from Roston Chase in the 14th over made sure that they did not falter and notched up a big win by 52 runs.

OUT! CAUGHT and BOWLED! That is the end of the match and Comilla Victorians have won it by 52 runs. Tanvir Islam drags one short at the off stump line and Richard Ngarava stays on the crease and chips the ball back to the bowler who takes a low catch to finish the game for his team.

Pitches the ball up on the off stump line. Rejaur Rahman drives the ball straight to long off and takes a run.

Strategic break! Not much to talk about at the moment as Sylhet Strikers are on the cusp of defeat and contrary to the Dhaka leg where every match was won by the team chasing, the Sylhet leg is about to start with two wins by the team batting first.

Pitched up on the off stump. Rejaur Rahman slogs the ball hard towards long on and runs a single.

Pitched up on the off stump. Rejaur Rahman taps the ball back to the bowler off the crease.

Bowls quicker outside the line of the off stump. Rejaur Rahman looks to cut the ball but misses the ball completely. Litton Das grabs the ball and takes the bails off. The umpires go up to check a Stumping. The big screen shows that the batter is inside the line and the play continues.

Just short at the stumps. Rejaur Rahman tucks it down at the crease. Another dot ball.

Pitches the ball up on the off stump. Richard Ngarava flicks the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pitches the ball up on the off stump. Rejaur Rahman drives the ball through covers for a single.