Tamim 73, Afridi three-for help Comilla Victorians overhaul 182

Comilla Victorians took charge of the match emphatically after being behind for most of the first quarter, and the momentum from that turnaround helped them cross the line despite some nervous moments at the end in their chase of 182. Tamim Iqbal's 42-ball 73 and his opening stand of 115 at nearly ten an over with Anamul Haque had set a platform that was too much damage for Khulna Titans to come back from. Thisara Perera smashed Carlos Brathwaite for ten runs in two balls as the allrounder tried to defend six off the last four balls. Khulna's Junaid Khan took four wickets for 32, but their fourth and fifth bowlers went for plenty and those margins were enough for Comilla.

Earlier, Shahid Afridi took regular wickets to stop Khulna's top order from running away to a gigantic total. After opener Jahurul Islam had fallen in the first over, the left-handed Junaid Siddique and right-hander Al-Amin played picturesque shots on a true batting surface. The pair put on 73 for the second wicket in 39 balls, and maximised in the Powerplay. But Afridi bowled Amin and Mahmudullah in quick succession, before Siddique's run-out was quickly followed by Dawid Malan's wicket - also to Afridi - after the pair had put up 50 for the fourth wicket. With five overs still left at the point, the momentum was curbed and Khulna only managed 35. Their final total of 181 was at least 20 short of a winning score on this pitch.

Malan's cut had travelled quickly to point and his throw to the non-striker's end was slightly wide.Siddique was languid as he stumbled back though and the bowler had enough time to get an underarm flick onto the stumps. In the 15th over, Brathwaite had affected a superb run-out at the non-striker's end off his own bowling and Comilla had collapsed from 115 for 0 to 129 for 3 as a result. They had begun showing nerves but Imrul Kayes hit the next two balls for six to create a big over nonetheless and kept the momentum going.

Tamim said at the presentation that he had begun panicking about his lack of runs in the BPL this season. The opener had made ducks in both games leading up to this one, and had only two double-digits scores in five innings before this game. His free-flowing start at the top of the order made it almost impossible to lose for Comilla.

Brathwaite conceded six fours and three sixes in his spell of 3.4 overs, and was taken for 50 runs. He also fell in the 17th over for a 9-ball 12. These average returns in both innings affected Khulna massively.

Comilla Victorians continue their upward march. They are now in second place, with four wins in six games. After snapping their four-match losing streak last time, Khulna have failed to put together a winning one. They're last with five losses in six games.