Bangladesh Premier League: Ashar Zaidi's Comilla Victorians into the final

Pakistani all-rounder scores 40 off 15 balls before claiming 4-11 against Rangpur Riders

Pakistani Ashar Zaidi guided Comilla Victorians to an emphatic 72-run win over Rangpur Riders in the first semi-final of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

Zaidi smashed 40 off just 15 balls, with four fours and two sixes, to power Victorians to a daunting 163-7, with Bangladesh international Imrul Kayes impressing with a superb 67 off 48 balls earlier on.

Shakib alHasan would be particularly disappointed at his side conceding so many runs despite Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera’s 5-26 in four overs. Shakib was the worst bowler of the lot as he gave away 42 runs in his four overs without claiming a single wicket.



In reply, Riders got off to a solid start as they scored 36 without the loss of a wicket. However, 19-year-old Bangladeshi pacer Abu Hider then dismissed openers Lendl Simmons and Soumya Sarkar off consecutive deliveries to set off a remarkable collapse.

Zaidi then showed how handy he is with the ball as well as he ran through the Riders’ middle-order.

The Riders batsmen had no answer to either Hider or Zaidi, who finished with four wickets apiece and gave away only 19 and 11 runs in three and four overs respectively.



Being the standout performer with both bat and ball, Zaidi was the only real contender for the man of the match.

Barisal Bulls book final date against Comilla

Barisal Bulls defeated Dhaka Dynamites in the second semi-final by 18 runs to book their place in the final against Victorians.

West Indian Kevon Cooper impressed with figures of 3-17, including a cool as ice penultimate over, while alAmin Hossain was equally superb with 3-15 in his four overs. Experienced Pakistani fast-bowler Mohammad Sami also helped his side get off to a good start, giving away only six runs in his first two overs before giving away 19 runs in his third over.



Earlier, Bulls lost opener Rony Talukdar in the first over but West Indies superstar Chris Gayle (31) and Bangladesh international Sabbir Rahman (41) put on 70 for the second wicket to give their side a threatening platform.

However, they were unable to cash in as the pitch slowed down and the spinners suffocated the batsmen.