Comilla Victorians bow out with win over Rangpur Riders

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's Comilla Victorians have beaten Rangpur Riders by eight runs for their fourth successive win on their way out of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016.

Asked to bat first, the Victorians posted 170-6 through a strong showing from the top order on the last day of the pool phase at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.

In reply, the Riders managed 162-8 and must now wait for the result of the day's second match between table-toppers Dhaka Dynamites (16) and Khulna Titans.

With last edition's champions Comilla and runners-up Barisal Bulls already out of the tournament, the result ensured Rajshahi Kings get a spot in the playoffs.

Chittagong Vikings, Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi all have 12 points. But Chittagong and Rajshahi are ahead on run rate.

Khulna are behind Rangpur on run rate but if they can beat Dhaka in the last match of the round-robin stage they will go through. If they lose, however, Rangpur will earn a berth in the last four.

Imrul Kayes (52) and Khalid Latif (43) gave Comilla a fine start with an 88-run opening stand after Rangpur elected to field.

Spinner Arafat Sunny took them both out in successive overs. Marlon Samuels (30) then took charge before some late hitting from Ashar Zaidi (17) and Rashid Khan (11 not out) took them to the competitive total.

Mohammad Shahzad (45) then gave Rangpur a good start, hammering five fours and two sixes to reduce Soumya Sarkar (5 off 12) to a spectator at the other end.

Pacer Mashrafe and spinner Nabil Samad fought back by taking out the toporder to leave Rangpur struggling on 57-4 in the ninth over. But Shahid Afridi revived their hopes.

The Pakistan allrounder took advantage of some poor bowling and blasted 38 off 19 balls before Rashid ended the onslaught. Ziaur Rahman (38 off 22) kept the fight alive but some fine bowling from Afghan legspinner Rashid put paid to their hopes.

Rashid returned 3-13 from four overs. Mashrafe and Nabil took two wickets each for Comilla.

Brief scores:

Comilla Victorians: 170/6 in 20 overs (Imurl 52, Latif 43, Samuels 30, Mashrafe 7, Zaidi 17, Liton 6, Rashid 11*; Anwar 0/32, Sohag 0/17, Sunny 2/29, Rubel 2/30, Dawson 0/19, Afridi 1/30, Soumya 0/11).

Rangpur Riders: 162/8 in 20 overs (Shahzad 45, Soumya 5, Mithun 2, Dawson 3, Afridi 38, Naeem 14, Ziaur 38 not out, Anwar 1, Sohag 7, Sunny 4*; Sharif 0/51, Saifuddin 1/34, Mashrafe 2/27, Nabil 2/35, Rashid 3/13).

Result: Comilla Victorians win by 8 runs.