Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders recorded a massive nine-wicket victory over Comilla Victorians in the 41st match of the UCB 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Saturday.
Rangpur Riders and Comilla Victorians collected 16 points each from their respective 12 matches but by virtue of better run rate, Rangpur Riders took the top spot at the points table.
Chasing Comilla’s fragile total of 72 off 16.3 overs, Rangpur Riders romped home making 76 for the loss of one wicket when they had 10.3 overs to spare.
Rangpur Riders made a sorrow start as opener Mehedi Maruf (5) was bowled out by Sanjit Saha when Rangpur’s total was just nine.
Then opener Chris Gayle and one-down AB de Villiers salvaged their team contributing together 67 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership before Rangpur Riders reached the winning spot.
Gayle notched up a superb 35 (not out). His 30-ball innings was ornamented with two sixes and three fours.
Villiers remained unbeaten with 34. His 22-ball knock was laced with four fours and two sixes.
Sanjit Saha of Comilla Victorians took one wicket conceding 32 runs.
Earlier, Comilla Victorians lost their wickets in regular intervals.
Ziaur Rahman, Liam Dawson and Shamsur Rahman of Comilla Victorians could reach the double-digit figures making 21, 18 and 12 runs respectively.
Ravi Bopara of Rangpur Riders was his team’s most successful bowler. He captured three wickets at the cost of seven runs.
Nahidul Islam and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged a pair of wickets each instead of nine and 18 runs respectively.
Minhajul Abedin Afridi and Shahidul Islam took one wicket each for eight and 12 runs respectively.
Ravi Bopara was adjudged the Man of the Match.
