Sports Reporter :
Rajshahi Kings recorded a narrow five-run win over Rangpur Riders in their 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 Sunday.
Sent into bat first, Rajshahi Kings made a fighting total of 135 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Rangpur Riders to 130 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Rajshahi Kings faced an early collapse as they lost three wickets for 36 runs.
Then Mohammad Hafeez and Zakir Hasan repaired the damage adding together 54 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Mohammad Hafeez was run by Ravi Bopara when Rajshahi Kings’ total was 90 for the loss of four wickets.
Zakir Hasan remained unbeaten with 42. His 36-ball innings was ornamented with two fours one four.
Hafeez made 26 from 29 balls featuring one four.
Later, Rajshahi Kings failed to build any notable partnership.
Farhad Reza and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza of Rangpur Riders bagged a couple of wickets each instead of 17 and 22 runs respectively.
Shafiul Islam and Sohag Gazi picked up one wicket each for 19 and 25 runs respectively.
Rangpur Riders had a sorrow start as Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (0) was caught behind by Zakir Hasan off Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Rangpur’s score was just two.
Then Chris Gayle and Mohammad Mithun put on together 29 runs in the second wicket stand before Gayle was caught at the long-on by Soumya Sarkar off Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Rangpur’s total was 31 for the loss of two wickets.
Mohammad Mithun hit a gritty 30 from 31 balls including two sixes, while Gayle made 23 from 14 balls featuring two fours and two sixes.
After Gayle’s dismissal. Mithun and RR Rossouw added together 40 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mithun was caught at the long-off by LJ Evans off Mohammad Hafeez when Rangpur’s score was 71 for the loss of 71 runs.
Later, Rossouw and Nahidul Islam built a notable partnership. They put up together 34 runs for the six-wicket stand before Nahidul Islam (16) was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Soumya Sarkar off I Udana when the team’s total was 126 for the loss of six wickets.
Rossouw remained unbeaten with 44. His 46-ball innings saw three fours.
Mohammad Hafeez and Kamrul Islam Rabbi captured a pair of wickets each for 22 runs each.
Udana took one wicket for 22 runs.
Zakir Hasan of Rajshahi Kings was adjudged the Man of the Match.
