Tharanga, Fletcher set up Sylhet's tense win
The openers added 73 before Nurul Hasan's unbeaten 3-ball 11 sealed the chase of 146 with one ball to spare
The Report by Mohammad Isam
05-Nov-2017
Sylhet Sixers 148 for 6 (Tharanga 51, Fletcher 36, Bravo 2-34) beat Comilla Victorians 145 for 6 (Samuels 60, Taijul 2-22, Santokie 2-30) by four wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Nurul Hasan's unbeaten 11off 3 balls wrapped up Sylhet Sixers' chase of 146 with one ball and four wickets to spare. With Sylhet needing 10 off the last over, Dwayne Bravo bowled Shuvagata Hom off the first ball. He could have dismissed Nurul off second ball had Rashid Khan at long-on not dropped a catch and parried the ball over the boundary. Nurul then drilled the third ball to cover to reduce the equation to three off three balls. The fourth ball was a slower ball from Bravo, and Liam Plunkett managed a single before Nurul edged the fifth past short third man, sparkling wild celebrations in the Sylhet camp.
Sylhet had another strong start to their chase with Upul Tharanga and Andre Fletcher adding 73 for the opening stand. But Comilla Victorians captain Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan claimed combined figures of 8-0-40-2 to stall the hosts. Nurul, however, hung on in the end to give the hosts their second win in two days.
Earlier, Marlon Samuel's 60 off 47 balls hauled Comilla to 145 for 6 on a dry pitch where run-scoring wasn't easy. Krishmar Santokie and Taijul Islam led the bowling for Sylhet by taking two wickets each.
Taijul's double-strike
Comilla made a fast start with Liton Das driving Santokie through the covers and taking Abul Hasan for two boundaries in four balls, including a lofted six over the bowler's head. Comilla then lost three wickets in a space of 16 balls for the addition of just eight runs. Nasir Hossain bowled Imrul Kayes before Taijul Islam removed Liton and Jos Buttler off successive balls. Taijul's double-strike slowed down Comilla and put pressure on the middle order.
Comilla made a fast start with Liton Das driving Santokie through the covers and taking Abul Hasan for two boundaries in four balls, including a lofted six over the bowler's head. Comilla then lost three wickets in a space of 16 balls for the addition of just eight runs. Nasir Hossain bowled Imrul Kayes before Taijul Islam removed Liton and Jos Buttler off successive balls. Taijul's double-strike slowed down Comilla and put pressure on the middle order.
Santokie shows his worth
Marlon Samuels and Alok Kapali then led Comilla's recovery but their 42-run stand was cut short by a Krishmar Santokie delivery that held up in the pitch slightly. Kapali went through with the shot but was caught at deep midwicket. The left-arm seamer then suckered Mohammad Nabi into playing a big shot, which was well caught by Shuvagoto Hom tearing to his left from deep midwicket. His 2 for 30 was instrumental in keeping Comilla to 145 for 6, despite Samuels' fifty.
Marlon Samuels and Alok Kapali then led Comilla's recovery but their 42-run stand was cut short by a Krishmar Santokie delivery that held up in the pitch slightly. Kapali went through with the shot but was caught at deep midwicket. The left-arm seamer then suckered Mohammad Nabi into playing a big shot, which was well caught by Shuvagoto Hom tearing to his left from deep midwicket. His 2 for 30 was instrumental in keeping Comilla to 145 for 6, despite Samuels' fifty.
Fletcher and Tharanga at it again
Having smashed fifties against Dhaka Dynamites on Saturday, Andre Fletcher and Upul Tharanga carried that form into their second game on Sunday. The West Indies opener struck two sixes and five fours in his 29-ball 36 while Tharanga provided him able support with quick singles and twos. Their calculated attack lasted 8.4 overs before Rashid Khan ran quickly at cover to complete a superb catch to remove Fletcher in the ninth over.
Having smashed fifties against Dhaka Dynamites on Saturday, Andre Fletcher and Upul Tharanga carried that form into their second game on Sunday. The West Indies opener struck two sixes and five fours in his 29-ball 36 while Tharanga provided him able support with quick singles and twos. Their calculated attack lasted 8.4 overs before Rashid Khan ran quickly at cover to complete a superb catch to remove Fletcher in the ninth over.
Calm waters disturbed
Soon after removing Fletcher, Comilla strengthened their foothold when Nabi trapped Sabbir Rahman lbw for 3 in the 12th over. Replays, however, suggested that the ball would have gone down leg. When Tharanga was run out for 51, courtesy a fine throw from substitute Raqibul Hasan, Sylhet were 102 for 3.
Soon after removing Fletcher, Comilla strengthened their foothold when Nabi trapped Sabbir Rahman lbw for 3 in the 12th over. Replays, however, suggested that the ball would have gone down leg. When Tharanga was run out for 51, courtesy a fine throw from substitute Raqibul Hasan, Sylhet were 102 for 3.
Rashid's redemption
Rashid Khan, one of the hottest young bowlers in limited-overs cricket, conceded 12 runs in his first over. But he hit back, giving away just six runs in his next three overs, including the wicket of Sylhet captain Nasir Hossain off his last ball. Only three runs came off that over - the 17th of the innings - leaving the hosts needing 28 off the last three overs.
Rashid Khan, one of the hottest young bowlers in limited-overs cricket, conceded 12 runs in his first over. But he hit back, giving away just six runs in his next three overs, including the wicket of Sylhet captain Nasir Hossain off his last ball. Only three runs came off that over - the 17th of the innings - leaving the hosts needing 28 off the last three overs.
The horrible follow-up
Dwayne Bravo was then expected to tighten the screws with his slower balls and wide yorkers. Instead, he began the 18th over with two wides, and dropped a return catch, reprieving Shuvagata Hom on 0. Two balls later, Hom skied one towards deep midwicket, but Imrul Kayes dived and spilled the chance, conceding three runs. Comilla will rue such errors in a tense game, which boiled down to the penultimate ball.
Dwayne Bravo was then expected to tighten the screws with his slower balls and wide yorkers. Instead, he began the 18th over with two wides, and dropped a return catch, reprieving Shuvagata Hom on 0. Two balls later, Hom skied one towards deep midwicket, but Imrul Kayes dived and spilled the chance, conceding three runs. Comilla will rue such errors in a tense game, which boiled down to the penultimate ball.
What they said
"We were short by 10-15 runs. If Marlon and I didn't get out in that time, we would have at least made 160."
Comilla Victorians captain Mohammad Nabi
"We were short by 10-15 runs. If Marlon and I didn't get out in that time, we would have at least made 160."
Comilla Victorians captain Mohammad Nabi
"We have now kept two good batting line-ups under 150, which shows that our bowling plans are working."
Sylhet Sixers captain Nasir Hosain
Sylhet Sixers captain Nasir Hosain
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84