Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders retained their unbeaten streak in the Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket as they defeated Sylhet Strikers by eight wickets at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Chasing Sylhet’s fighting total of 205 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, Rangpur Riders romped home making 210 for the loss of two wickets when they had only six balls to spare.
Rangpur had a poor start as opener Azizul Hakim (0) was caught & bowled by Tanzim Hasan when Rangpur’s total was just two runs.
Opener Alex Hales and Saif Hasan rescued their team from danger contributing together 186 runs in the second wicket stand before Saif Hasan was caught by Ariful Haque off Tanzim Hasan when Rangpur’s score was 188 for the loss of two wickets.
Alex Hales remained unbeaten with 113. He hit seven sixes and 10 fours in his 56-ball match-winning innings. Alex was adjudged the Man of the Match for his marvelous century.
Saif Hasan hammered a windy 80. His 49-ball knock was decorated with seven sixes and three fours.
After Saif’s dismissal, Alex Hales and Iftikhar Ahmed helped their side to anchor the victory target.
Tanzim Hasan captured two wickets in the space of 23 runs.
Sylhet Strikers had a solid start with two openers Rony Talukdar and George Munsey put on together 47 runs in the first wicket stand before Munsey (18) was dismissed by Akif Javed. Then, Rony Talukdar and Zakir Hasan built a notable partnership scoring together 41 runs in the second wicket stand before Rony Talukdar was trapped leg before wicket by Mahedi Hasan when Sylhet’s total was 88 for the loss of two wickets.
Rony cracked a typhoon 54. His 32-ball innings was studded with three sixes and seven fours.
After Rony’s departure, Zakir Hasan and Paul Stirling repaired the damage adding together 36 runs for the third wicket partnership before Paul Stirling (16) was caught by Mahedi Hasan off Mohammad Saifuddin when Sylhet’s’s score was 124 for the loss of three wickets.
After Paul’s dismissal, Zakir Hasan and Aaron Jones added together 47 runs in the four-wicket stand before Zakir Hasan was caught by Nahid Rana off Mohammad Saifuddin when Sylhet’s total was 171 for the loss of four wickets.
Zakir Hasan hit an exact 50. He hit four sixes in his 38-ball knock.
Aaron Jones and Jaker Ali scored together 34 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership before Sylhet’s innings came to an end.
Aaron Jones remained unbeaten with 38 runs. He hit four sixes and one four in his 19-ball innings.
Jaker Ali remained unbeaten with 20 runs. His five-ball knock was belted with three sixes.
Mohammad Saifuddin bagged two wickets instead of 31 runs, while Mahedi Hasan and Akif Javed got one wicket each conceding 38 and 51 runs respectively.
