|| CF Correspondent ||

Chattogram Challengers failed to capitalize on the start provided by the openers as they were restricted to a below par 159-6 against Cumilla Warriors in their ninth match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Being sent to bat first, Chattogram got a good start from their opener Lendl Simmons and Junaid Siddique, who combined for a 103-run partnership in just 12th overs.

That was a good platform by any means but the dismissal of Simmons for 34 ball-54 at the hands of Soumya Sarkar sparked a sensational collapse.

Simmons struck five fours and two sixes in his knock, which was highest for Chattogram.

In the next over, his fellow opener Junaid Siddique was trapped run-out for 45 after hitting six fours in 37 deliveries.

The middle order combined with Chadwick Walton (9), Ryan Burl (2) and Nurul Hasan Sohan (4) fell for single-digit figure to ruin the start.

Sohan led the side in the absence of Imrul Kayes who couldn’t play due to his sickness and got dismissed at a moment when his service was badly needed.

As it looked, Chattogram could be held back for below 150, their Afghanistan recruit Zia-ur-Rahman blasted 21 ball-34 not out with four sixes to give the bowlers something to defend.

Soumya Sarkar was the wrecker-in-chief with 2-20 in four overs while Al-Amin Hossain, Sunzamul Islam and David Wiese took one wicket apiece.

Chattogram who is leading the point table with 12 points from eight games would ensure the play-off should they win the game.

Cumilla’s aspiration to stay alive for the playoff race would be hampered in case of a defeat as they have four points in seven games.