CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, CMC- A ruthless unbeaten century from Trinidad and Tobago opening batsman Evin Lewis powered Barisal Bulls to a nine-wicket win over Dhaka Dynamites in the 16th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) here yesterday.
23-year-old Lewis plundered 101 not out from 65 balls as Barisal lost only one wicket in chasing down the 159 run target set by Dhaka who were sent in at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
He smashed seven fours and six sixes on his way to become the sixth centurion in the tournament.
Lewis began the chase in earnest by swinging Farhad Reza for a six over midwicket in the second over and put on a 127 opening stand with Rony Talukdar who scored 38.
Lewis got to his fifty off 39 balls, with a six off Nabil Samad over long-off and celebrated the milestone by plundering 27 runs off the next over bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate, which included three sixes over midwicket, long-off and cover and two fours.
He surpassed his own personal T20 best of 78 and ended up with the highest individual score in the BPL this season.
Earlier, Lewis’s countryman Kevon Cooper picked up two for 30 runs as Dhaka slumped to 73 for 4 by the 11th over before reaching 158 for five in 20 overs.
Kumar Sangakkara, who made 60 off 46 balls, and a 32-ball 45 from ten Doeschate helped Dhaka to recover after their sluggish start.
Barisal’s victory over Dhaka with eight balls remaining means they now have four wins, level with Rangpur Riders who have played an extra match.
They will get more firepower with Chris Gayle, who had reeled off three centuries in the BPL, poised to join the team in Dhaka next week.
