Comilla storms into BPL final with Litton and Hridoy’s stellar performance; Rangpur to meet Barishal in Qualifier 2

In the first Qualifier of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today, Comilla Victorians secured a six-wicket victory over Rangpur Riders, propelled by fifties from Captain Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy.

Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy Shine for Comilla

With this win, Comilla advanced straight to the BPL final, keeping alive their hopes for a hat-trick title. Meanwhile, Rangpur will face Fortune Barishal in the Qualifier-2 on Wednesday, vying for a spot in the final.

Despite a remarkable effort from James Neesham, who scored an unbeaten 97 off 49 balls for Rangpur, Comilla’s Litton and Hridoy’s outstanding performances ensured their team chased down the target of 186 with nine balls to spare.

Litton’s aggressive innings of 83 runs off 57 balls, supported by Hridoy’s 64 off 43, formed a pivotal 143-run partnership for the second wicket, setting the stage for Comilla’s victory.

Although Rangpur’s Fazalhaq Farooqi initially provided a breakthrough, dismissing Sunil Narine on the first ball of the chase, Litton and Hridoy’s aggressive batting neutralized Rangpur’s early advantage.

Neesham’s heroic innings, marked by eight fours and seven sixes, was not enough to secure victory for Rangpur, as Comilla’s disciplined bowling and resilient batting line-up prevailed.

Earlier, Rangpur, opting to bat first, faced early setbacks with Tanvir Islam and Rohanat Doullah Borson denting their top order. Despite Neesham’s valiant efforts and a crucial partnership with skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rangpur could only manage 185-6 in their innings.

Comilla’s disciplined bowling, particularly Sunil Narine’s economical spell of 1-11 in four overs, restricted Rangpur’s scoring opportunities during the middle overs.

Andre Russell’s crucial wickets further hindered Rangpur’s progress, ensuring Comilla’s comfortable chase in the end.

Neesham’s explosive innings notwithstanding, Comilla’s comprehensive performance secured their spot in the BPL final, setting up an exciting showdown for the championship title.