Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders posted a slim four-wicket win over Sylhet Sixers in their match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 Cricket at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Tuesday.
Chasing Sylhet Sixers fighting total of 173 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Rangpur Riders reached the winning target making 177 for the loss of six wickets when they had just two balls to spare.
Rangpur Riders had an unhappy start as they lost batting sensation Chris Gayle (5) when Rangpur’s score was seven.
Then Ziaur Rahman and Brendon McCullum salvaged their team from early debacle adding together 59 runs for the second wicket stand before Ziaur Rahman was stumped out by Nurul Hasan off Nabil Samad when Rangpur’s total was 66 for the loss of two wickets.
Ziaur Rahman hit a quick-fire 36 from 18 balls with five fours and two sixes.
After Ziaur’s dismissal, batsmen of Rangpur Riders failed to build any notable partnership.
McCullum notched up a marvelous 43. His 38-ball innings was decorated with four fours and two sixes.
Ravi Bopara hit a worthy 33 from 24 balls.
Later, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Nahidul Islam played the key role for Rangpur’s victory. Mashrafe hit 17 (not out) from 10 balls with two sixes, while Nahidul Islam hit an unbeaten 14. He struck two fours in his seven-ball innings.
Abul Hasan, Nabil Samad, Tim Bresnan and Sohail Tanvir of Sylhet Sixers took one wicket each conceding 25, 31, 40 and 44 runs respectively.
Earlier, Sylhet Sixers faced an early batting jolt as they lost three wickets for 53 runs.
Then Babar Azam and Sabbir Rahman contributed 74 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Babar was run out by Nazmul Islam when Sylhet’s score was 127 for the loss of four wickets.
Babar hammered a stormy 54. His 37-ball innings was laced with four fours and a sixer.
It was Babar’s 11th T20 half century.
Sabbir Rahman hit a polished 44. His 37-ball innings was belted with five fours before he was bowled out by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Sylhet’s total was 150 for the loss of five wickets.
Andre Fletcher, Ross Whitely and Tim Bresnan contributed 26, 17 (not out), 16 (not out) respectively to the Sylhet’s total.
Nazmul Islam of Rangpur Riders grabbed three wickets at the cost of 18 runs while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took one wicket for 39 runs.
Nazmul Islam of Rangpur Riders was adjudged the Man of the Match.
