Skipper Mahmudullah’s brilliance helps Dhaka to win

With help of explosive and brilliants knocks from skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal, Minister Group Dhaka were able to register a thumping 50-run victory as they ended Imrul Kayes-led Comilla Victorians' unbeaten run in the ongoing edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday. 

Before Tuesday's defeat, Comilla had won all three played in the tournament. An innings of controlled aggression from Mahmudullah, who top-scored with an unbeaten 70 off 41 balls. While Tamim missed his fourth 50-plus score of the tournament by just four runs, Mahmudullah got to his first fifty in this BPL season, and his tenth overall fifty in the competition. After in-form Tamim smashed a 35-ball 46, it was Mahmudullah's unbeaten 70 off just 41 deliveries that powered Dhaka to a commendable 181 for six in the day game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.  And despite promising knocks from Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Imrul, Comilla suffered a batting collapse in the middle and were eventually bundled out for just 131 in 17.3 overs. After being sent to bat, Tamim, despite losing his opening partner Mohammad Shahzad early, was able to give Dhaka a decent start. The left-handed opener, who smashed a scintillating hundred in his previous game against Sylhet Sunrisers, looked to be in exquisite touch during his boundary-laden knock.  Tamim, who laced his innings with two fours and three maximums, did everything right and was looking ominous till he mistimed one straight to short midwicket in the 11th over.  With Tamim providing the groundwork, Mahmudullah capitalised with a magnificent knock at the end. 

The Dhaka skipper stayed till the end, smashing a total of three boundaries and four sixes, to help his side pile up a commendable total.  Chasing a big total, Comilla lost two early wickets before Joy and Imrul consolidated through a 70-run third-wicket stand.  Joy, who smashed Shuvagata Hom for four consecutive boundaries in the sixth over, was the most impressive one. But both Imrul and Joy were removed by Andre Russell in the same over, both batters dragging the ball onto their stumps.  Since then, Comilla could never bounce back, losing wickets at regular intervals as they eventually fell short on the day.  With the ball in hand, Russell impressed for Dhaka with his figures for three for 17 in 2.3 overs. Not for the first time in the tournament, Comilla's batters came up short, especially after Litton, Faf du Plessis and Delport fell cheaply. Even though captain Imrul got to 28, it was his wicket that triggered the batting collapse.