West Indians Johnson Charles and Shai Hope stroked their highest T20 scores on Tuesday as Comilla Victorians were victorious in a high-scoring contest against Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Playing in Match 32 in Sylhet, Khulna Tigers racked up 210-2, but even that was not enough as Victorians won by three wickets with 10 balls to spare.
Charles, batting at number four instead of regular opening spot, smashed 11 sixes and five fours in a magnificent 107 not out off 56 balls to set up the victory for Victorians.
The right-hander featured in a third wicket stand of 122 with fellow wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan that set the tone for the successful chase.
He then dominated a fourth wicket partnership of 59 in just 4.1 overs with Khushdil Shah, whose contribution was 12. Rizwan made 73 off 39 (8x4s, 4x6s).
Skipper Hope and opener Tamim Iqbal both got into the 90s as Tigers put up what seemed like a winning target at the halfway mark.
After the early loss of a wicket with just 13 runs on the board, Hope and Tamim added a mammoth 184 for the second wicket to dominate the bowling.
While Tamim fell for 95 off 61 (11x4s, 4x6s) in the final over, Hope stayed to end, finishing on a career-best 91 off 55 (5x4s, 7x6s).
It was Hope’s sixth fifty in the format.
