MIRPUR, Bangladesh, CMC-West Indies all-rounder Kevon Cooper missed a hat trick in a bowling spell that disrupted Comilla Victorians run chase but did not stop them from pulling-off a tense three wicket win over Barisal Bulls in the finals of the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
In a dramatic penultimate, over Cooper struck twice by picking up a wicket in successive balls to finish with two wickets for 31 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
Cooper, who also scored seven not out, removed Darren Stevens for eight then Captain Mashrafe Mortaza without scoring as Comilla chased the 157 run target set by Barisal.
They reached the target in the final delivery losing seven wickets, replying to Barisal’s 156 for four in 20 overs in an encounter that could have gone either way.
Barisal’s total was built on a top score of 48 runs from skipper Mahmudullah who also picked up two wickets while Shahriar Nafees contributed 44.
But after a top score of 53 from opener Imrul Kayes, Alok Kapali played an outstanding innings of 39 not out to give Comilla Victorians the BPL title off the last ball of the final.
Kapali, who along with Stevens struggled for boundaries earlier, swung two crucial fours through the leg side, off the last two balls of Cooper’s penultimate over, bringing the target down to 13 off the last over.
Kapali’s 39 off 28 balls included five fours, two of which he struck in the last over before taking a single of off the last ball to secure the title.
