Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders posted an easy six-wicket win over Rajshahi Kings in their first match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 Cricket at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Saturday.
Batting first Rajshahi Kings made 154 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Rangpur Riders reached the winning target making 155 for the loss of four wickets remaining with seven deliveries. Rangpur Riders faced an early debacle as they lost their two openers for just 15 runs.
Then Mohammad Mithun and Shahriar Nafees added together 75 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mohammad Mithun was caught by Luke Wright off Kesrick Williams when Rangpur’s score was 90 for the loss of three wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Mithun hit 46 from 33 balls including three sixes and one four.
After Mithun’s departure, Shahriar Nafees was cleanly bowled out by James Franklin when Rangpur’s total was 115 for the loss of four wickets.
Shahriar notched up 35 off 34 balls with three fours and a sixer.
Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten with 39, while Thisara Perera remained unbeaten with 20.
Franklin, Williams and Miraz of Rajshahi Kings took one wicket apiece.
Rajshahi Kings had an unhappy start as opener Mominul Haque (9) was caught at the square leg by Rubel Hossain off Sohag Gazi when Rajshahi’s score was 12.
Then Luke Wright and Rony Talukdar repaired the damage contributing together 49 runs for the second wicket partnership before Wright (11) was caught at the long-off by Thisara Perera off Nazmul Hossain when the team’s total was 61 for the loss of two wickets.
Rony Talukdar top-scored with 47. His 38-ball innings was belted with three fours and two sixes. Talukdar was cleanly bowled out by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Rajshahi’s score was 90 for the loss of five wickets.
After departure of Talukdar, James Franklin and Darren Sammy added together 45 runs in the sixth wicket stand before Sammy was caught at the deep midwicket by Adam Lyth off Lasith Malinga when Rajshahi’s total was 135 for the loss of six wickets.
Sammy hit a quick-fire 29 off 18 balls with two sixes and a four.
Franklin remained unbeaten with 26. He hit one four and one six in his 22-ball knock.
Mahidy Hasan Miraz scored 15 from five balls including three fours.
Nazmul Islam and Lasith Maliga were the most successful bowlers of Rangpur Riders with two wickets each for 20 and 34 runs respectively.
