Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders beat Sylhet Sixers by four wickets in their match of the UCB 6th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 cricket at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing Sylhet’s fighting total of 194 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, Rangpur Riders reached the winning target making 195 for the loss of six wickets when they had just three balls to spare.
Rangpur Riders had an awful start as opener Chris Gayle (0) was caught at the point by Sabbir Rahman off Mohammad Irfan when Rangpur’s score was naught.
Then AD Hales and RR Rossouw salvaged their team from debacle adding together 63 runs before Hales was caught at the mid-wicket by Liton Das off Alok Kapali when Rangpur’s total was 63 for the loss of two wickets.
Rossouw and AB de Villiers built another notable partnership. They put on together 67 runs for the third wicket partnership before Rossouw was caught by Liton Das off Taskin Ahmed when Rangpur’s score was 130 for the loss of three wickets.
Later, Mohammad Mithun and Nahidul Islam contributed together 34 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Mohammad Mithun (14) was caught at the long-off by David Warner off Taskin Ahmed when Rangpur’s total was 171 for the loss of five wickets.
After departure of Mithun, Nahidul Islam could stay at the crease for a short time as he(19) was bowled by Taskin Ahmed when Rangpur’s score was 171 for the loss of six wickets.
Then Farhad Reza and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza guided their team to reach the winning spot.
Rossouw hit a superb 61. His 35-ball knock saw nine fours and two sixes. Rossouw was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.
AB de Villiers made 34 from 21 balls featuring two fours and two sixes, while Hales hit 33 off 34 balls including two fours and two sixes.
Taskin Ahmed was the most successful bowler of his team. He captured four wickets at the cost of 42 runs.
Earlier, Sylhet Sixers had a shaky start as opener Liton Das (11) was caught at the mid-off by Farhad Reza off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Sylhet’s score was 13.
Then Sabbir Rahman and Afif Hossain put on together 39 runs for the second wicket partnership before Afif Hossain (19) was run out by RR Rossouw when the team’s total was 52 for the loss of two wickets.
Sabbir Rahman hammered a hurricane 85. His 51-ball innings was ornamented with six sixes and five fours.
After Afif’s dismissal, Sabbir Rahman and David Warner contributed together 51 runs in the third wicket stand before Warner (19) was caught at the long-on by AD Hales off Mashrafe when Sylhet’s total was 103 for the loss of three wickets.
Then Sabbir Rahman and Nicholas Pooran added together 82 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Sabbir was caught at the long-off by Rossouw off Shafiul Islam when Sylhet’s score was 185 for the loss of four wickets.
Pooran remained unbeaten with 47. His 27-ball innings had three sixes and four fours.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged a couple of wickets at the cost of 31 runs, while Shafiul Islam took one wicket for 43 runs.
