Sports Reporter :
Chattogram Challengers registered an easy seven-wicket win over Rajshahi Royals in their Twenty20 cricket match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Tuesday.
Chattogram Challengers confirmed their play-off berth securing 16 points from 11 matches, while Rajshahi Royals are breathing on Chattogram’s neck bagging 14 points from as many matches. Chasing Rajshahi’s total of 166 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Chattogram sailed home making 170 for the loss of three wickets when they had nine balls to spare.
Chattogram Challengers made good start as openers Lendl Simmons and Chris Gayle put on together 35 runs in the opening stand before Gayle (23) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Irfan Sukkur off Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
Then Simmons and Imrul Kayes built a notable partnership adding together 77 runs for the second wicket partnership before Simmons was run out by a direct throw of Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Chattogram’s total was 112 for the loss of two wickets.
Simmons hit a sparkle 51. His 43-ball innings saw four sixes and two fours.
After dismissal of Simmons, Mahmudullah Riyad came at the crease but he could stay there for a short period as he (10) was cleanly bowled out by Farhad Reza when Chattogram’s score was 130 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Imrul Kayes and Chadwick Walton guided their team to reach the victory target.
Imrul Kayes remained unbeaten with 67. His 41-ball innings was decorated with five sixes and three fours. Kayes was adjudged the Man of the Match for his sparkle innings.
Walton remained unbeaten 14.
Farhad Reza and Kamrul Islam Rabbi took one wicket apiece. Rajshahi Riyals faced a debacle as opener Afif Hossain (9) was cleanly bowled out by Rubel Hossain when Rajshai’s score was 16.
Then Liton Das and Irfan Sukkur added together 37 runs in the second wicket stand before Sukkur (18) was run out by a joint-effort of Ziaur Rahman and Mahmudullah Riyad when Rajshahi’s total was 53 for the loss of two wickets.
After Sukkur’s dismissal, Liton Das and Shoaib Malik contributed together 41 runs for the third wicket partnership before Liton Das was caught behind by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan off Ziaur Rahman when Rajshahi’s score was 94 for the loss of three wickets.
Liton hit a remarkable 56. His 45-ball innings was studded with five fours and two sixes.
After Liton’s departure, Shoaib Malik and Andre Russell put on together 30 runs in the four-wicket stand before Russell (20) was caught by Mahmudullah Riyad off Rubel Hossain when Rajshahi’s total was 124 for the loss of four wickets.
Shoaib Malik made 28 from 24 balls featuring two fours.
Later, Rajshahi’s batsmen failed to make any notable partnership.
Ziaur Rahman and Rubel Hossain grabbed three wickets each at the cost of 18 and 20 runs respectively.
