Sports Desk:

Comilla Victorians won a last-ball thriller against Fortune Barishal to take home their third Bangladesh Premier League title with a one-run win in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.

Comilla’s bowlers came through for them after their batters could only muster 151-9 on the board after opting to bat first.

Sunil Narine smashed a blistering 57 off 23 balls but the rest of the batters failed to carry on that momentum and it was Moeen Ali’s timely 38 off 32 that got them to a competitive total.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Shafiqul Islam took two wickets each for Barishal.

Shykat Ali set the stage for Barishal’s chase with a stellar 58 off 34 balls but Comilla’s resilient bowling attack marshalled skilfully by skipper Imrul Kayes helped them restrict Barishal to 150-8.

Narine, who was rightfully named the player of the final, and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam both struck twice and pacer Shohidul Islam defended 10 runs in the final over to give Comilla their third title, making them the most successful franchise in the history of the league.

Narine started the match with a bang for Comilla as he carried on his form from the last game, where he struck the fastest half-century in BPL history off just 13 balls.

The West Indian struck five sixes and fours apiece to take Comilla to 69-1 before he lost his wicket Mehedi Hasan Rana in the last over of the powerplay.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy (eight off seven balls) then got himself run out, Faf du Plessis (four off seven) gave an easy return catch to Mujeeb and Imrul got caught behind the wickets by Bravo for a run-a-ball 12 in quick successions to leave Comilla stuttering at 94-5 at the halfway stage of the innings.

Moeen and Abu Hider saved Comilla’s innings with a 54-run partnership off 52 balls for the seventh wicket.

The partnership ended in the final over but their efforts made sure Comilla bowlers had something to defend.

Comilla’s defence began splendidly as Shohidul removed the dangerous Munim Shahriar for a seven-ball duck.

But Barishal had a trick up their sleeves too as instead of sending Shakib, they promoted Shykat at number three and he announced his presence with a hat-trick of fours against Shohidul.

Shykat and Chris Gayle formed a 74-run second wicket stand off 50 balls, that had Barishal on track of their maiden title in debut appearance.

But the tide turned once again when Tanvir dismissed Shykat in the 10th over.

Gayle and Nurul Hasan then added 28 runs for the third wicket before the former got trapped leg before wicket by Narine for 33 off 31.

Tanvir then dismissed Shakib for a run-a-ball seven and Nurul got run-out for 12 off 15 courtesy of a direct hit by Ariful.

Narine conceded just two runs in the 17th over and got the wicket of Bravo (one off two) and Mustafizur Rahman gave away just six runs and dismissed Nazmul Hossain Shanto (12 off 15) in the penultimate over.

The responsibility fell on Towhid Hridoy and Mujeeb in the final but they could only take nine eight runs off Shohidul, as Comilla came out victorious with the narrowest possible margin.

Alongside the trophy, Comilla took home Tk 1 crore as prize money while runners-up Barishal were awarded Tk 50 lakhs.

Barishal skipper Shakib, who scored 284 runs and claimed 16 wickets, was named the player of the tournament.