Lewis ton provides template

A two-week layoff is a long time in a T20 tournament like the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where matches are played almost every day. When Evin Lewis came to the crease, the expectation from the Comilla Victorians management might have been that the West Indies cricketer would get back the feel of the game with some runs under his belt. After missing four matches since his injury on January 13, Lewis  did a lot more than that as the left-hander returned in style to strike a magnificent ton -- the fourth of this season's BPL.

His innings continued the streak of foreign players being the only ones to score tons this season. Laurie Evans, Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw were the three others who attained this feat. Lewis's domination resulted in Comilla posting the second-highest total in BPL history and portrayed the steely determination needed to perform when the going gets tough. It was not rosy for Lewis at the beginning and he limped off at the end but remained unbeaten on a magnificent 49-ball 109 -- his second BPL ton at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Wahab Riaz, Photo: Firoz Ahmed

It also raised questions why local batsmen, with more experience in these conditions, did not reach the magical mark of a T20 ton. Some have gotten close -- Tamim Iqbal, Lewis's opening partner, hit a vital 73 in this edition while Mushfiqur Rahim's 41-ball 75 took Chittagong Vikings to an impressive win in Dhaka. Yasir Ali too scored 78 against Rangpur Riders, who were also at the receiving end of the highest score by a local batsman -- Sabbir Rahman's 85.

T20 tons are complex because not all batters get to face the first and the last over during a match the way Lewis did yesterday. However, match situation aside, particular strategies has merits in this format.

Having suffered an injury scare after he jarred his knee while taking a quick single, he planned his innings well, keeping the scenario in mind. Although not batting comfortably, he picked his bowlers well, taking young pacer Saddam Hossain -- playing his first BPL game this season -- to the cleaners. He plundered 28 runs in the 15th over, hitting four sixes that took him from 50 to 75 in the over. In fact, nine of his 10 sixes yesterday came against Saddam and another youngster in left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.

That kind of T20 instinct is yet to be shown by some of the local batsmen as quick runs are needed but so is awareness. Having gotten starts, they did not capitalise even though the talent is there. Of the 15 tons scored in six editions, only three were by Bangladeshis -- Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful and Sabbir Rahman.

Tamim recently said: "If one wants to get to the next level, they will have to make these innings longer. For a Bangladesh player to attain the feat would be a big achievement."

Lewis demonstrated what the next level is by drowning Khulna in sorrow in a 80-run win after a hattrick from Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz -- the second of this season and only the third in BPL-- saw the Titans bundled out  for 157 in 18.5 overs.