Narrow win for Rangpur Riders

Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders composed a narrow four-wicket win over Sylhet Strikers in the seventh match of the Ispahani Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Tuesday.

Put into bat first, Sylhet Strikers scored 120 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

In return, Rangpur Riders reached the victory target making 125 for the loss of six wickets when they had just 10 balls to spare.
Rangpur Riders had early catastrophe as they lost their six wickets for 39 runs.

Opener Babar Azam and sixth-down Azmatullah Omarzai salvaged their team from danger adding together 86 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership to anchor the victory spot.

Babar Azam remained unbeaten with 56 runs. His 49-ball gritty innings was decorated with six fours.

Azmatullah Omarzai remained unbeaten with 47 runs. He hit three sixes and two fours in his 35-ball superb innings. Azmatullah Omarzai was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Dushan Hemantha of Syhet Strikers claimed three wickets in the space of 20 runs, while Nazmul Islam, Richard Ngarava and Tanzim Hasan picked up one wicket each for 18, 28 and 36 runs respectively.

Sylhet Strikers faced an early disaster as they lost their five wickets for 39 runs.

Fourth-down Benny Howell and fifth-down Ben Cutting rescued their team from debacle contributing together 68 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Ben Cutting was dismissed by Ripon Mondol when Sylhet’s total was 107 for the loss of six wickets.

Ben Cutting hit a polished 37. His 35-ball innings was studded with four fours and a sixer.

After Cutting’s departure, Benny Howell could not stay at the crease for a long period as he was also a victim of Ripon Mondol when Sylhet Strikers score was 117 for the loss of seven wickets.

Benny Howell notched up a fine 37. His 32-ball knock was laced with three fours and a sixer.

Mahedi Hasan and Ripon Mondol captured two wickets each instead of 18 and 19 runs respectively.

Mohammad Nabi and Hasan Murad took one wicket each for 17 and 29 runs respectively.