MIRPUR, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels extended his excellent form with another match-winning knock as he lifted Comilla Victorians to a handsome nine-wicket victory over Lendl Simmons’ Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
The right-hander stroked an unbeaten 42 off 24 deliveries, an effort that propelled Victorians to their target of 84 with almost eight overs left at the Sher-e- Bangla National Stadium.
For Victorians, it was their third straight victory and it kept them on top of the standings.
Chasing a modest target, Victorians lost Mahmudul Hasan for 11 at 29 for one in the sixth over but Samuels quickly put the game to rest with an authoritative display.
He struck eight fours and a six and added 55 in an unbroken second wicket stand with Imrul Kayes, who made an unbeaten 24 off 29 balls.
Samuels finished the game in style, slashing left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib to the third man boundary.
Earlier, Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Kulasekara produced a destructive spell of four for 12 from his four overs, as Riders crumbled meekly after being sent in.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Mithun top-scored with 28 from 42 deliveries but was the only player to pass 20 and just one of two to reach double figures.
Simmons spent seven balls over three runs before becoming the second of Kulasekara’s victims in the second over with the score on nine for two, edging a drive to Imrul Kayes at slip.
Victorians are expected to lose Samuels shortly as the player heads off to join the West Indies team which have assembled in Brisbane for the three-Test series against Australia.
In the other game played at the Sher –e- Bangla on Friday, Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards had little impact as his Sylhet Super Stars went down to Dhaka Dynamites by 34 runs.
