Collection 143 runs, the opposing opening pair picked up 72 runs. However, when bowling is the place of strength, then Fortune Barisal brought out their best game with that collection. Shakib Al Hasan made great use of the bowlers, they also brought wickets to the captain at important times.
Shakib’s Barisal Imrul Kayes’ Comilla Victorians were stopped by 133 runs in a great performance of Death Bowling. In the first qualifier after the eliminator, Mirpur also saw a thrilling fight, this time the victory went to the bowling team. Barisal won by 10 runs in the seventh match in a row, they also went to the final of BPL.
Of course, this is not the end for Comilla, which lost its batting momentum. They will get another chance to go to the final. They will have to overcome the obstacle of Chittagong Challengers in the second qualifier on 16 February.
Du Plessis could not cross Comilla. 22 runs were needed in the last 2 overs. However, in the 19th over, Mehedi Hasan Rana gave only 4 runs, with Du Plessis returning. He could have got Sunil Narine’s wicket too, but it didn’t happen as Bravo made an easy catch.
Shakib left Mujib Ur Rahman’s over on that day, in the end, it came in handy. Narine gave the last hope to Comilla by hitting six in the third ball, but the last defense was not. He had to return cut-behind with Mujib’s ball, the fifth ball. After one ball, Barisal was overjoyed.
Earlier, Barisal also made a good start by batting. Munim Shahriar, who is in great form, attacked Nahidul Islam in the first over. In the slog sweep, he cut two sixes and scored 18 runs in four overs. Munim also hit Mostafiz with six in the next over. In the powerplay, Imrul also brought Narine and Moin, but Barisal averaged a big score of 57 runs in the four overs by Chris Gayle who killed Tanvir Islam in the fourth over.
Shahidul Islam brought the first breakthrough to Comilla, Gayle made 22 off 19 balls and caught mid-off. Munim, however, did not allow the speed of the run to decrease in that way. In the tenth over, Tanvir failed in a slog soup attempt and became lbw with 44 off 30 balls. Barisal’s innings also started collapsing. Shakib, who is in great form, was run out in that overdue to a misunderstanding with Nazmul Hossain. Shakib wanted to take a single while playing in mid-on, but Nazmul didn’t seem to notice when he went to see bowler Tanvir who had given the dive. Comilla’s two batsmen appeared at the non-strike end, Shakib had to say goodbye to Imrul’s throw at the end of the strike. Barisal scored 64 runs for 1 wicket. In the next two overs of Moin, when Nazmul and Touhid returned to their hearts, Barisal lost 4 wickets in 18 balls and 10 runs. They could not handle the pressure anymore. Ziaur Rahman, who scored 16 off 12 balls, was stumped by Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, and Nurul Hasan by Shahidul Islam.