Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders posted a thrilling three-wicket victory over Fortune Barishal in their match of the Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Sent into bat first, Fortune Barishal piled up a massive 197 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Rangpur Riders reached the winning target in the last ball of the 20th over making 202 for the loss of seven wickets. Nurul Hasan hammered a hurricane 32 (not out). He hit three sixes and three fours in his seven-ball match-winning innings and was adjudged the Man of the Match. He hit 6, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6 in the last over of Kyle Mayers and won the match. Nurul’s incredible effort saved them from an almost confirmed defeat.
Rangpur Riders had a poor start as opener Alex Hales (1) was stumped out by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Tanvir Islam when Rangpur’s score was just four.
Opener Tawfique Khan and Saif Hassan mended the innings adding together 37 runs for the second wicket partnership before Saif Hassan (22) was caught by Rishad Hossain off Faheem Ashraf when Rangpur’s total was 41 for the loss of two wickets.
Tawfique Khan was caught & bowled by Rishad Hossain when Rangpur’s score was 66 for the loss of three wickets.
Tawfique Khan made 38 from 28 deliveries including three sixes and three fours.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah fought back putting together 91 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Iftikhar Ahmed was caught behind by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Shaheen Shah Afridi when Rangpur’s total was 157 for the loss of four wickets.
Iftikhar Ahmed notched up 48. He struck three sixes and three fours in his 36-ball innings.
Khushdil Shah was caught at the long-off by Mahmudullah Riyad off Janandad Khan when Rangpur’s score was 171 for the loss of five wickets.
Khushdil hit a quick-fire 48. His 24-ball innings was belted with five sixes and two fours.
Janandad Khan of Barishal was his team’s highest wicket taker with two wickets for 48 runs.
Fortune Barishal made a formidable start with two openers Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto put on together 81 runs from 61 deliveries in the opening stand before Najmul Hossain Shanto was caught by Khushdil Shah off Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
Shanto hit a superb 41. His 30-ball innings was laced with five fours and a sixer.
After Shanto’s dismissal, Tamim Iqbal could stay at the crease for a short period as he was caught by Alex Hales off Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Barishal’s total was 90 for the loss of two wickets.
Tamim Iqbal hit a captain’s knock of 40. He struck two sixes and four fours in his 34-ball knock.
After Tamim’s departure, Kyle Mayers and Towhid Hridoy built a remarkable partnership scoring together 59 runs in the third wicket stand before Towhid Hridoy (23) was caught at the midwicket by Mohammad Saifuddin off Akif Javed when Barishal’s score was 149 for the loss of three wickets. Kyle Mayers remained unbeaten with 61 runs. He hit seven sixes and a four in his 29-ball windy innings.
Mahmudullah Riyad (2) was caught at the midwicket by Saif Hassan off Mohammad Saifuddin when Barishal’s total was 152 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, Kyle Mayers and Faheem Ashraf made another remarkable partnership scoring together 29 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Faheem Ashraf was run out by a joint-effort of Nurul Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin when Barishal’s score was 181 for the loss of five wickets.
