Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders recorded a narrow eight-run win over Comilla Victorians in the 15th match of the Ispahani Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Rangpur Riders collected six points from five matches, while Comilla Victorians earned four points from four matches.
Deciding to bat first, Rangpur Riders piled up a satisfactory 165 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Comilla Victorians to 157 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Rangpur Riders had a sorrow start as opener Brandon King (14) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off Tanvir Islam when Rangpur’s total was 18.
Opener Babar Azam and one-down Fazle Mahmud mended the innings contributing together 55 runs in the second wicket stand before Babar Azam was bowled out by Khushdil Shah when Rangpur’s score was 73 for the loss of two wickets.
Babar hit a polished 37. His 36-ball innings was belted with four fours and a sixer.
After Babar’s dismissal, Fazle Mahmud was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman when Rangpur’s total was 89 for the loss of three wickets.
Fazle Mahmud made 30 from 21 deliveries with two sixes and one four.
Third-down Azmatullah Omarzai and fourth-down Mohammad Nabi built a worthy partnership. They scored together 35 runs in the five-wicket stand before Mahammad Nabi (13) was bowled out by Raymon Reifer when Rangpur’s score was 144 for the loss of five wickets.
Omarzai remained unbeaten with 36. His 20-ball innings was laced with two sixes and three fours. Omarzai captured two wickets in the space of 31 runs. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Riefer was his team’s most successful bowler with two wickets for 20 runs.
Comilla had a poor start as opener Litton Das (0) was dismissed by Omarzai when Comilla’s score was just one.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan and one-down Mahidul Islam repaired the damage putting together 59 runs in the second wicket stand before Rizwan (17) was dismissed by Mahammad Nabi when Comilla’s total was 60 for the loss of two wickets.
Mahidul Islam and second-down Towhid Hridoy built another notable partnership adding together 53 runs in the third wicket stand before Mahidul Islam was dismissed by Hasan Mahmud when Comilla’s score was 113 for the loss of three wickets.
Mahidul Islam notched up the team’s highest of 63. His 55-ball innings was decorated with three sixes and four fours.
After Mahidul’s departure, Comilla batters failed to make any notable partnership.
Towhid Hridoy scored 39 from 28 deliveries featuring three fours and a sixer.
