Dilshan, Tamim fifties thump Sylhet

Friday, 4 December 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tamim Iqbal and Tillakaratne Dilshan struck fifties and toyed with Sylhet Superstars’ attack as Chittagong Vikings broke their four-match losing streak with a 10-wicket win, their first at home. This was only the second 10-wicket victory in the BPL since the inaugural match in 2012.

Shahid Afridi had earlier hit his first T20 half-century after three years to resurrect Sylhet after they were reduced to 22 for 4. Afridi’s 41-ball 62 set Chittagong a 140-run target but his effort ended in vain as Tamim and Dilshan helped Chittagong ace the chase thanks to the biggest opening partnership in this year’s BPL and the third 100-plus opening stand in two days.

Tamim set to work immediately, clattering three fours off Mohammad Shahid’s first over. Tamim then took Dilshan Munaweera for back-to-back fours in the fourth over. Tillakaratne Dilshan soon laid into Abdur Razzak who had returned after recovering from a hamstring injury. Dilshan followed a slog-swept six over midwicket with a brace of fours through the offside. He then unfurled his signature Dilscoop for another six, this time off Rubel Hossain, as Chittagong raced to 69 in 6 overs.

Afridi was welcomed into the attack with a cut past backward point and Tamim reached his third fifty in the competition, off 36 balls, when he drove Sohail Tanvir past cover. An over later Dilshan brought up a fifty of his own and went on to claim six fours, the last of which was the winning blow, to add to three sixes.

The match would have finished much earlier had Afridi not hauled Sylhet from trouble. Dilshan Munaweera, Nurul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Ravi Bopara all fell inside four overs. Munaweera was run out, courtesy some brilliant direct hit from Mohammad Amir. Bopara was also run out while Nurul skied Bilawal Bhatti and Mushfiqur was out leg-before to Taskin.

Mominul Haque and Nazmul Hossain Milon also failed but Afridi rallied with the lower order to give his side some late boost. The first of his four sixes came off Shafiul Islam in the seventh over before the same bowler was creamed over mid-on in the eleventh over. Afridi also struck two sixes off Asif Hasan and Bhatti and reached his fifty off 33 balls, after being reprieved at square leg and fine leg on 14 and 25.

Amir finally got rid of Afridi with a peach of a ball that skidded from outside leg to hit the top of off, in the 18th over. Dilshan and Tamim then combined to hand Sylhet their fifth loss in six games.

Chief Scores: Chittagong Vikings 140 for 0 (Tamim 67*, Dilshan 67*) beat Sylhet Superstars 139 for 9 (Afridi 62, Shafiul 2-37) by ten wickets