Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders registered a facile 29-run victory over Barisal Bulls in their match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Deciding to bat first Rangpur Riders piled up a healthy total of 154 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then all out Barisal Bulls for 125 off 18.2 overs.
Rangpur Riders made a modest start as opener Soumya Sarkar (17) was caught at the cover by Shahriar Nafees of Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Rangpur’s score was 29.
Then Mohammad Shahzad and Mohammad Mithun built a notable partnership. They put on together 76 runs for the second wicket stand before Mohammad Shahzad was trapped leg before wicket by Rayad Emrit when Rangpur’s total was 105 for the loss of two wickets.
Mohammad Shahzad notched up a polished 48. His 40-ball innings was belted with four fours and a sixer.
Mohammad Mithun hit a fine 38 from 41 balls featuring one four and one six. He was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Taijul Islam off Thisara Perera when Rangpur’s score was 118 for the loss of four wickets
Earlier, Shahid Afridi (7) was caught at the mid-off by Shahriar Nafees off Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Rangpur’s total was 116 for the loss of three wickets.
Later, Rangpur Riders failed to make any notable partnership.
Ziaur Rahman remained unbeaten with 23. He hit two fours and one sixer.
Fourth-down Anwar Ali (7) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Thisara Perera when Rangpur’s score was 138 for the loss of five wickets.
Thisara Perera and Kamrul Islam Rabbi got a couple of wickets each conceding 26 and 39 runs respectively.
Barisal Bulls failed an early collapse as they lost three wickets for 29 runs.
Then Dawid Malan and Fazle Mahmud contributed together 39 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Fazle Mahmud was stumped out by wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad off Shahid Afridi when Barisal’s score was 68 for the loss of four wickets.
After dismissal of Fazle Mahmud, Dawid Malan could stay at the crease for a short period as he was caught behind by Mohammad Shahzad off Anwar Ali when Barisal’s total was 68 for the loss of five wickets.
Dawid Malan hit a notable 30 from 23 balls featuring six fours, while Fazle Mahmud made 21 off 16 balls including two fours and a sixer.
Later, Shahriar Nafees and Thisara Perera contributed 36 runs for the sixth wicket stand before Thisara Perera was caught by Naeem Islam off Shahid Afridi when Barisal’s score was 104 for the loss of six wickets.
Perera hit a remarkable 24 from 17 balls including two fours and a sixer.
After departure of Perera, Barisal lost their wickets in regular intervals.
Liam Dawson, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Shahid Afridi bagged a couple of wickets each instead of 11, 12, 21, 24 runs respectively.
Naeem Islam and Anwar Ali took one wicket each for 14 and 25 runs respectively.
Mohammad Shahzad of Rangpur Riders was adjudged the Man of the Match.
