Online Desk: Comilla Victorians picked up another win in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) over Fortune Barishal on Tuesday, thanks to right-arm pacer Mukidul Islam who scalped five wickets. Barishal were bowled out for 121 runs in 19.1 overs after losing the toss and being sent to bat first. Mahmudullah Riyad was their top scorer with 36 runs, coming in to bat at number three after opener Anamul Haque Bijoy’s failure. The other opener, Fazle Mahmud, and middle-order batters Shakib Al Hasan and Iftikhar Ahmed also underperformed.

However, Afghan batter Karim Janat saved the day with 32 off 26 balls, including four fours and a six. Mukidul was the standout bowler for the Victorians, taking five wickets for 23 runs in 3.1 overs. In reply, despite losing four wickets for 60 runs, with a contribution of 36 runs off 39 balls by Liton Das, Comilla sealed the match with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 62 runs between Khushdil Shah and Andre Russell.

Russell remained unbeaten with 30 off 16 balls, including two fours and three sixes, while Shah hit 23 off 19 balls. This win marked Comilla’s eighth in a row, securing their position as the number two team in the standings with 16 points from 11 matches. They have one more league match to play against Rangpur Riders on February 10.