The fine efforts of Worcestershire Rapids Vitality Blast captain, Moeen Ali, with bat and ball proved in vain as Comilla Victorians went down by 10 runs in the Bangladesh Premier League Qualifier One against Fortune Barishal in Mirpur.
Moeen picked up two wickets for 23 in his four overs and gave the Victorians innings much needed impetus with three sixes in making 22 off 15 balls.
But his side could not maintain the momentum and closed on 133-7 in reply to 143-8.
Moeen and his team-mates will have another chance to go through to the final when they meet Chattogram Challengers in Qualifier Two at the same venue on Wednesday.
His contribution followed on from his 75 with nine sixes and 2-20 versus Khulna Tigers on Friday.
Moeen conceded 16 runs in his first two overs – the fifth and the 11th of the innings – but then returned to make a double breakthrough in his final spell.
The fifth delivery of his third over accounted for number three batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto (13) who attempted a fine cut but inside edged through to the keeper.
The first ball of Moeen’s final over sent back Towhid Hridoy (1) who came down the wicket to a flighted delivery and top edged a catch to shorth third man.
Moeen bowled 12 dot ball and had figures of 2-7 from his final two overs.
Victorians were behind the run rate when Moeen came to the wicket at 68-3 in the 12th over.
He hit sixes off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Dwayne Bravo before the latter bowled him with the total 104-4 in the 16th over.
Moeen’s strike rate of 146.66 was the highest of the Victorians innings but Fortune Barishal bowled tightly in the closing stages.
