Hosts Chittagong Vikings made a disappointing start in the second phase of the Bangladesh Premier League as they conceded a 33-run defeat against Barisal Bulls on Tuesday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
Bulls made 170-7 and later dismissed Vikings for 137 runs to begin the second phase of the tournament in the right note that got underway at the Chittagong in front of the full house crowd.
From a precarious 63-5 at 11.1 overs, Bulls skipper Mahmudullah and Sekuge Prasanna showed the rearguard action by scoring 63 runs off 33 balls in the sixth wicket stand to bring their team back in the contention.
Mahmudullah made 51 off 45 to lead from the front and Prasanna scored 36 off 20 before Kevon Cooper’s cameo innings off 21 off 11 that gave Bulls a crucial impetus to put a respectable total on the board at the end of their stipulated 20 overs.
Viking bowlers, who dislodged both the Bulls opener within 10 runs and picked three subsequent wickets quickly, looked sloppy and their skipper Tamim Iqbal seemed to show lack of killing instinct that allowed the opponents to make a comeback.
Tamim opted to operate with his stock bowlers when the opponents were down and Vikings’ butter fingers also helped Bulls to revive.
Ziaur Rahman and Naeem Islam had the chance to catch Prasanna at long-off and long-on respectively but they only deflected the ball off boundary rope resulting six on both the occasions.
The match looked to slip out of Vikings grip in the 19th over when Elton Chigumbura gave away 22 runs and had to bowl nine deliveries, including two wides and a no-ball to complete his over.
Vikings gave away 69 runs in their last five overs that virtually ended their game as that shattered their morale. Their low morale was visible during their chase as they kept losing wickets at regular interval.
Tamim was dismissed after scoring six in the second over and Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan followed him with19 runs.
Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal was run-out without scoring and Anamul Haque, Chigumbura and Ziaur also fell in quick succession to leave Vikings tottering at 77-6.
Naeem Islam was the highest scorer with 38 runs but he could not prevent the team’s fourth defeat in five matches, which also made their semi-final prospect bleak.
Cooper picked up 3-28 while Al Amin Hossain took 2-34 for Bulls.
Man of the match Cooper praised Mahmudullah for his captain’s knock and feels that he had grown a lot since he last saw him when they were playing for Chittagong Kings.
‘His [Mahmudulah] innings was very important for us.
‘Myself and Sami hit a couple of sixes in the end but it was important for him to steady the ship,’ said the West Indian.
‘He is a guy that I look up to in terms of leadership. He bats for the team. He has improved a lot as a player.’
Brief Scores
Barisal Bulls 170-7 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 51, Prasanna 36, Maruf 28, Cooper 21 not out; Amir 2-20) v Chittagong Vikings 137 in 19.5 overs (Naeem 38, Amir 20; Cooper 3-28, Al-Amin 2-34)
Result: Barisal Bulls won by 33 runs.
Man of the match: K Cooper (BB).
Source: New Age