Sports Reporter :
Rajshahi Royals posted an easy 30-run win over Rangpur Rangers in their Twenty20 cricket match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Sent into bat first, Rajshahi Royals piled up a mammoth total of 179 for the loss of four wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Rangpur Rangers to 149 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.
Rajshahi Royals made an auspicious start as openers Liton Das and Afif Hossain put on together 51 runs before Liton Das (19) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Jahurul Islam off Mustafizur Rahman.
Then Afif Hossain was stumped out by Jahurul Islam off Mohammad Nabi when Rajshahi’s total was 53 for the loss of two wickets.
Afif hit a quick-fire 32. His 17-ball innings saw three sixes and two fours.
Then Shoaib Malik and Irfan Sukkur repaired the damage contributing together 31 runs for the third wicket partnership before Irfan (20) was caught by Taskin Ahmed off Arafat Sunny when Rajshahi’s score was 84 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Shoaib Malik and Ravi Bopara put up 48 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Shoaib was caught by Mohammad Nabi off Mustafizur Rahman when Rajshahi’s total was 142 for the loss of four wickets.
Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten with 50 runs. He hit three sixes and four fours in his 29-ball innings. Bopara was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings.
Shoaib hit a worthy 37 from 31 balls featuring four fours.
Later, Bopara and Mohammad Newaz put on together 47 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership.
Newaz remained unbeaten with 15 runs.
Mustafizur Rahman got two wickets conceding 41 runs, while Mohammad Nabi and Arafat Sunny took one wicket each for 26 and 45 runs respectively.
Later, Fazle Mahmud, Tom Abell and Mohammad Naim of Rangpur Rangers shone with the willow.
Fazle Mahmud hit a respectable 34. He hit three fours and two sixes in his 26-ball knock.
Abell scored 29 from 24 balls including three fours.
Opener Mohammad Naim hit 27. He struck two fours and two sixes in his 18-ball innings.
Mohammad Newaz, Shoaib Malik and Kamrul Islam Rabbi bagged two wickets each instead of 21, 27 and 32 runs respectively.
