Sports Reporter :Rangpur Riders registered a sensational two-wicket victory over Chittagong Vikings in the opening match of the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.Electing to bat first, Chittagong Vikings piled up a fighting total of 187 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.In reply, Rangpur Riders reached the victory target in the last ball of the 20th over making 188 for the loss of eight wickets.Rangpur Riders faced an early collapse losing their four wickets for 23 runs.Then Misbah-ul-Haq and Al-Amin Hossain repaired the damage contributing together 64 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Al-Amin Hossain was bowled out by Elton Chigumbura when Rangpur’s total was 87 for the loss of five wickets.After dismissal of Al-Amin Hossain, Misbah-ul-Haq and TC Perera built another notable partnership. They added together 80 runs for the sixth wicket stand before Perera was caught at the long-on by Jeevan Mendis off Mohammad Amir when Rangpur’s score was 167 for the loss of six wickets.After departure of Perera, Misbah-ul-Haq could stay at the crease for a short period as he was bowled out by Mohammad Amir when Rangpur’s total was 167 for the loss of seven wickets.Misbah-ul-Haq played the key role for Rangpur’s nail-biting victory. He notched up a stormy 61. His 39-ball innings was studded with four sixes and three fours. Misbah-ul-Haq was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding innings.Later, Darren Sammy (18) was run out by wicketkeeper Anamul Haque when Rangpur’s score was 187 for the loss of eight wickets in 19.5 overs.Then Saqlain Sajib took one run in the last ball and Rangpur earned the hard-fought victory.Perera hit a quick-fire 43 from 17 balls including three sixes and four fours while Al-Amin Hossain made 38 off 28 balls with three fours and a six.Opener Soumya Sarkar scored 20 from nine balls hitting three fours and a six before he was trapped leg before wicket by Mohammad Amir.Mohammad Amir bowled extremely well and finished his superb spell as 4-1-30-4.Earlier, Tamim Iqbal and TM Dilshan made a good start for Chittagong Viking’s as the two openers added 52 runs before TM Dilshan was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Arafat Sunny off Abu Javed.After dismissal of Dilshan, Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque added together 65 runs for the second wicket stand before Tamim Iqbal was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq off Saqlain Sajib when Chittagong’s score was 117 for the loss of two wickets.Later, Jeevan Mendis and Asif Ahmed contributed 44 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Jeevan Mendis was run out by Soumya Sarkar when Chittagong’s total was 178 for the loss of six wickets.Dashing opener Tamim Iqbal made a superb 51 from 32 balls featuring six fours and a soxer while Jeevan Mendis hit a stormy 39 from just 18 balls with three sixes and three fours.Anamul Haque scored 36 off 30 balls including five fours while TM Dilshan hit a quick-fire 29 from 16 balls with three sixes and two fours.Saqlain Sajib grabbed three wickets instead of 26 runs while Abu Javed bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 26 runs.
