Sunil Narine scored the fastest 50 in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) history on Wednesday (February 16) to help power Comilla Victorians to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Chattogram Challengers and a place in Friday’s final against Fortune Barishal.

Narine smashed four sixes and four fours to bring up his 50 in 13 balls as Comilla Victorians chased down 149 in just 12.5 overs. The Trinidadian cricketer cemented himself as having the joint second-fastest half-century in T20 history, alongside Marcus Trescothick 13-ball knock in 12 years ago.

Once he was out for 57 off just 16 balls, Captain Imran Kayes chipped in with 22 before Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali shared in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership that took the side to victory.

Ali was the aggressor in the partnership with his unbeaten 30 coming from just 13 balls and included three fours and consecutive sixes in the 13th over to bring the match to a close. Du Plessis was also unbeaten on 30 at the end.

Chattogram Challengers was under pressure from the get-go as they collapsed to 50-5 after eight overs. It required 44 from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and 33 from Akbar Ali to restore a level of credibility to the score.

Mrittunjoy Chowdhury contributed 15 from nine balls at the end as Moeen Ali (3-20) and Shohidul Islam (3-33) wreaked havoc on the Challengers line up.

Comilla Victorians will now come up against Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo in the final, hoping for another explosive inning from their Trinidadian all-rounder.