DHAKA, Jan 19, 2024 (BSS) - Pace bowler Shoriful Islam picked up a hat-trick and Naim Sheikh struck a half-century as Durdanto Dhaka made a winning start to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), beating defending champions Cumilla Victorians by five wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Shoriful, who took all three wickets in the last three balls of the innings, finished with 3-27 to help the side restrict Cumilla to 143-6, despite a 66 from Imrul Kayes, who was removed as captain of the side despite leading them three BPL titles. 

Naim's 52 was instrumental in helping the side overhaul the target with three balls to spare.
 
Naim and his opening partner Danushka Gunathilaka added 101-run to make the chase a cake-walk as Dhaka reached 147-5 in 19.3 overs to give its new owner a winning start. 

Naim who brought up his fifty off 38 balls, finally was dismissed by left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam after hitting three fours and as many sixes in 40 balls. Sri Lankan recruit Gunathilka's 41 came off 42 balls with the help of four fours and one six.

After giving the side a breakthrough with the wicket of Naim, Tanvir also took the wicket of Gunathilaka in his next over and finally had figures of 2-27.

Mustafizur Rahman then took two wickets to make the match little competitive before Chaturanga de Silva hit a six to confirm the side's victory. Irfan Shukkur was the other notable scorer with 16 ball-24.

Being sent to bat first, Comilla was stifled by Dhaka spinners, who stemmed the run flow with tight bowling. Chaturanga de Silva removed Comilla's new captain Liton Das for 13 to break through before Kayes and Towhid Hridoy shared a 93-run for the second wicket.

But they failed to go after the bowlers when it mattered most. Taskin Ahmed who picked up 2-30, got rid of both of the batters in the space of three balls in the penultimate over as they tried to accelerate the scoreboard.

Kayes clobbered six fours and two sixes for his 56 ball-66 while Hridoy's 41 ball-47 studded with one four and two sixes. 

Pakistan recruit Khushdil Shah hit Shoriful consecutive two sixes before the pacer further extended Comilla's agony with hat-trick.