Sports Reporter :
Rajshahi Kings recorded an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Rangpur Riders in their match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Chasing Rangpur Riders’ total of 134 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Rajshahi Kings sailed home making 138 for the loss of two wickets when they had 20 balls to spare.
Rajshahi Kings made a formidable start as Lendl Simmons and Mominul Haque, the two openers of Rajshahi put on together 122 runs for the opening stand before Simmons was run out by Thisara Perera. It was Lendl’s 43rd T20 half century.
Simmons hit a superb 53. His 50-ball innings was decorated with four fours and a sixer.
Momihul Haque remained unbeaten with 63. His 44-ball marvelous innings was studded with three sixes and four fours. It was Mominul’s eighth T20 half century. Mominul was adjudged the Man of the Match.
After dismissal of Simmons, Malcolm Waller could stay at the crease for a short period as he (4) was bowled out by Thisara Perera when Rajshahi’s total was 127 for the loss of two wickets.
Rony Talukdar remained unbeaten with 10.
Thisara Perera of Rangpur got one wicket conceding 12 runs.
Earlier, Rangpur Riders faced an early batting jolt as they lost three wickets for 33 runs.
Then Ravi Bopara and Shahriar Nafees repaired the damage adding together 49 runs for the fourth wicket stand before Nafees was caught at the long-on by Malcolm Waller off Kesrick Williams when Rangpur’s score was 82 for the loss of four wickets.
Bopara remained unbeaten with 54. His 51-ball remarkable knock was laced with three fours and two sixes. It was Bopara’s 30th T20 half century.
After departure of Nafees, Thisara Perera arrived at the crease but he failed make any notable score as he (4) was caught at the deep midwicket by Mominul Haque off James Frankilin when Rangpur’s total 94 for the loss of five wickets.
Then Bopara and Ziaur Rahman added 40 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket stand.
Nafees made 23 from 31 balls featuring two fours.
Ziaur Rahman remained unbeaten with 11.
Farhad Reza of Rajshahi Kings bagged a couple of wickets at the cost of 28 runs, while James Franklin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Kesrick Williams took one wicket each for 14, 19 and 34 runs respectively.
