Dhaka beat Cumilla by five wickets

Durdanto Dhaka has defeated Cumilla Victorians in the first game of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

A drama awaited for both teams till the last over. Finally, Durdanto Dhaka managed the hard-fighting victory against Cumilla Victorians at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.

Dhaka overtook the 144-run target, set by the defending champions, keeping just three balls in hand.

In reply to 143, Naim Sheikh, 52, and Danushka Gunathilaka, 41, made a fantastic 101-run opening stand for Dhaka that set the platform for victory.

Apart from Irfan Sukkur, 24 from 16, no other batters could hold their nerves as they lost five wickets between 101 and 141 runs.

Irfan left the crease being caught when the team needed three runs from four balls, later, Chaturanga de Silva hit a six in the next delivery to ensure the victory.

Tanvir Islam and Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets each while Khushdil Shah got one for Cumilla.

Earlier, Dhaka restricted Cumilla to 143 runs thanks to pacer Shoriful Islam's first hat-trick in the domestic tournament.

Shoriful who returned figures of 3-27, took all of his wickets in the last three balls of Comilla's innings.

Playing XIs

Durdanto Dhaka: Mohammad Naim, Danushka Gunathilaka, Chaturanga de Silva, Lasith Croospulle, Irfan Sukkur (wk), Mosaddek Hossain (c), Saif Hassan, Taskin Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, Shoriful Islam, Usman Qadir.

Cumilla Victorians: Litton Das (c & wk), Imrul Kayes, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Khushdil Shah, Roston Chase, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Matthew Forde, Musfik Hasan.