Sports Reporter :
Chittagong Vikings defeated Rajshahi Kings by six wickets in the 27th match of the UCB 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Wednesday.
Sent into bat first, Rajshahi Kings made a fighting total of 157 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Chittagong Vikings reached the winning target scoring 159 for the loss of four wickets when they had just two balls to spare.
Chittagong Vikings faced an early jolt as they lost three wickets scoring 30 runs.
Then Mushfiqur Rahim and Najibullah Zadran salvaged their team contributing together 41 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Zadran was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Jonker of Arafat Sunny when Chittagong’s score was 71 for the loss of four wickets.
After Jonker’s departure, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mosaddek Hossain put on together 88 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand and guided their team to earn the victory.
Mushfiqur Rahim hit a captain’s knock of 64 (not out). His 46-ball knock was studded with six fours and two sixes. Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings.
Mosaddek remained unbeaten with 43. His 36-ball innings saw two sixes and four fours.
Opener Mohammad Shahzad made 25 from 17 balls featuring five fours, while Zadran scored 23 from 19 balls hitting two fours and a sixer.
Arafat Sunny grabbed three wickets instead of 22 runs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one wicket conceding 25 runs.
Earlier, Rajshahi Kings had a disastrous start as the lost early two wickets for just eight runs.
Then Lauire Evans and RN ten Doeschate repaired the damage contributing together 54 runs for the third wicket partnership before Doeschate was caught at the short cover by Yasir Ali off Abu Jayed when Rajshahi’s score was 62 for the loss of three wickets.
Evans notched up a tremendous 74. His 56-ball innings was laced with eight fours and two sixes.
Evans and C Jonker made a worth partnership. They put on together 47 runs in five-wicket stand before Evans was caught at the mid-on by Mushfiqur Rahim off Khaled Ahmed when Rajshahi’s score was 119 for the loss of five wickets.
Jonker and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added together 38 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership.
Jonker remained unbeaten with 36. His 20-ball innings decorated with three fours and two sixes.
Doeschate made 28 from 20 balls featuring four fours.
Khaled Ahmed of Chittagong Vikings bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 30 runs, while Sunzamul Islam, R Frylink, Abu Jayed took one wicket each for 19, 31 and 43 runs respectively.
