Saifuddin the hero as Comilla win by a run

The target of 128 looked an easy enough task for Dhaka Dynamites but Comilla Victorians' bowlers pulled out brilliant performances to thwart Shakib Al Hasan's men. Mohammad Saifuddin bagged four and delayed Dhaka's top-four finish as Comilla won by just a run in a tight match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Mahedi Hasan started things off, picking up opener Upul Tharanga before another local bowler Mosharraf Hossain removed Mizanur Rahman. Mohammad Saifuddin then picked up the dangerous Rony Talukdar and Dhaka were left reeling when their skipper Shakib perished, his stumps castled trying to whack Mahedi out of the park.

Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard then put on a 42-run fifth-wicket stand but the partnership was broken after the former was holed out at the boundary. The middle overs saw fantastic economic spells from Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz. The pressure told and Saifuddin then removed Pollard and Nurul Hasan off back-to-back deliveries in the 17th over.

Andre Russell bided his time and picked up crucial sixes off Afridi off the 18th over. With the match hinging on balance, Russell was holed out at third man but survived after replays showed that Wahab over-stepped. Riaz however managed to scalp Hom off the fifth delivery of his fourth over.

13 runs were required off the last over and Saifuddin got Rubel Hossain out leg-before off the first delivery. With 12 more needed off four following a single, Saifuddin bowled two dots before Rusell hit the fifth delivery for six over extra cover. Six was required off the last delivery and Saifuddin bowled a fantastic yorker that Russell was able to dig out. The ball went for four and Comilla won by just 1 run.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal had started with a bang at the top of the Comilla Vikings innings as the left-hander dealt in boundaries. Evin Lewis still looked like an injury risk as he struggled to get the deliveries away and fell after dragging a Sunil Narine delivery on to his stumps. Dynamites' Rubel Hossain and Shakib started to make their presence felt with tight bowling. The former removing Anamul Haque for naught before Tamim (38 off 20) fell to Shuvagata Hom after a stunning catch from Rubel.

Shakib struck twice as Comilla lost five inside 11 overs, with Imrul Kayes finding it hard to hit form once more. Some late blows from Wahab Riaz (16 off 12) and Mahedi Hasan (20 off 15) allowed Comilla to reach 127 all out.

The result means that Dhaka, who are on 10 points but have a superior run-rate to Rajshahi Kings, will have to win their final match against Khulna Titans tomorrow in order to make the playoffs. Rajshahi Kings (on 12 points) meanwhile will be hoping that Khulna, who are out of the running for a top-four finish can do them a favor and thwart Dhaka. 

With today's win, the Victorians now top the standings with 16 points and will face Rangpur Riders tomorrow in a game which will decide if they remain top of the table.

Brief scores:

Comilla Victorians 127 all out (Tamim 38, Mahedi 20, Rubel 4//30, Shakib 2/23, Narine 2/25)

Dhaka Dynamites 126/9 (Pollard 34, Narine 22, Mahedi 2/22,Afridi 1/27, Wahab 1/22, Saifuddin 4/24)