The Comilla Victorians showed their strength in front of a boisterous crowd on the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024, defeating the Sylhet Strikers by a margin of 52 runs.

Due to Ben Cutting's delivery, Litton Das's early departure was one of the Victorians' early setbacks. Imrul Kayes and Muhammad Rizwan steadied the innings with noteworthy contributions, but Towhid Hridoy's run-out increased the pressure. Jaker Ali scored 29, and Khushdil Shah scored 21 to help the Victorians reach a competitive total of 130/8 in the allotted 20 overs despite a few mishaps.

The dismissals of Mohammad Mithun and Najmul Hossain Shanto caused the Victorians to lose ground early on, but Zakir Hasan's strong 41 runs off 34 balls brought them back to stability.

The standout performer with the ball was Aliss Islam, who stole the limelight by claiming four wickets for a mere 17 runs in his four-over spell. Roston Chase complemented the attack by taking two wickets for 17 runs in his quota of four overs. The Strikers' batting lineup struggled against the pace of Islam and the spin of Chase.

The Strikers' pursuit of the modest target of 131 never gained momentum as they kept losing wickets regularly. Ultimately, they were bowled out for 78 in 17.3 overs, paving the way for the Victorians to secure a comfortable 52-run triumph.

This dominant performance by the Comilla Victorians sets a formidable tone for their BPL 2024 campaign. Their resilience with the bat and clinical bowling underscore their potential as a formidable force in the tournament.