DHAKA, Feb 18, 2022 (BSS) - Comilla Victorians clinched the

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), thanks to Sunil Narine who put up a
stellar allround performance to help the side win the nerve-wrecking
final by one run against Fortune Barishal at Sher-e-Bangla National
Cricket Stadium today.

  Narine firstly blasted 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.

   It was Comilla's third trophy, and they are the only team that won
the BPL trophy thrice under same franchise. Dhaka also had three
trophies but that came under two franchisees. 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 a 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 of 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.

   His epic show started right from the start as he blasted Mujeeb Ur
Rahman for 18 runs in the first over and continued in same vain like
the last match. Dwayne Bravo only could check his natural flamboyance,
resisting him from making another record.

   Shakib Al Hasan gave the side first breakthrough, rattling the
stump of Liton Das for 4 with an arm ball but Narine's relentless
assault meant the scoreboard was rotated rapidly.

   Narine finally got to his fifty off 21 balls and then struck
another six, indicating that he is perfectly placed for a quick
century. However in the next delivery he mistimed a slower of Mehedi
Hasan Rana to give a catch at long-off where Shanto held it with
perfect judgment and celebrated with wild dance.

   Narine's onslaught gave Comilla 72 runs in the first six overs but
Barishal then took the control of the match gradually.

   Mujeeb came back to his second spell to take the wicket of Faf du
Plessis for 4 and in doing so gave Comilla a massive setback as they
looked destined for a big total.

   Dwayne Bravo got rid of Comilla captain Imrul Kayes for 12 and
Mujeeb again struck to dismiss Ariful Haque for duck to cause further
damage, leaving Comilla six down for 95 runs in the 11th over. After
losing Narine's wicket in the sixth over, Comilla could score only 26
runs for four wickets in the next five overs.

   Moeen Ali and Abu Haider Rony then resisted and put on 54-run for
the seventh wicket to propel the side past 150. Moeen hit two fours
and one six for his 32 ball-38 before being run out in the last over
while Rony made 19.

   Comilla might have scored some more runs but they lost three
wickets in the last over, bowled by Shafiqul Islam to be contended
with 151.

   Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Shafiqul Islam took two wickets apiece while
Bravo, Shakib and Rana claimed one wicket each.

   Fortune Barishal though lost Munim Shahriar for six ball-duck in
the second over, they dominated the game, through Shykat Ali, who
replaced Ziaur Rahman in the side.

   Shykat kept Chris Gayle just a mere spectator to launch a
spectacular attack on Comilla bowlers to give Barishal a hope to
clinch the title for the first time.

   Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam dismissed Shykat after he hammered 58
off 34 with 11 fours and one six. Gayle who was on 8 off 13 by the
time when Shykat was dismissed, came out from shell and struck two
sixes and one four in quick succession to bring up the Gayle of his
old.

   Then Sunil Narine stepped up and got the big scalp of Gayle who
made 33off 31 with one four and two sixes. But Tanvir brought Comilla
back in contention, with the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan, who made just
7 runs. Still Barishal were in dominating position.

   After Shakib's dismissal, Comilla bowler struck regularly to tilt
the game towards them while Barishal batters looked to have a lack of
self-confidence who brought up their ultimate demise.

   Apart from Narine's two wicket-haul, Tanvir also got two while
Mustafizur and Shohidul picked up one wicket apiece.