The Rangpur Riders maintained their hopes of reaching the final in the ongoing Global Super League in Guyana, West Indies, with a crucial 15-run victory over the Amazon Warriors. The match, held earlier today, showcased Rangpur's resilience as they outperformed the home team to stay in contention for the championship.
The Rangpur Riders remain in contention for a spot in the Global Super League final but must secure a victory against Pakistan's Lahore Qalandars tomorrow to keep their hopes alive. To advance, Rangpur will also need to match the required net run rate, a calculation that slightly favors them as they play the final match of the five-team league stage. With only two games remaining, no team has yet secured a place in the final, leaving all five teams theoretically in the running for the coveted spot.
Rangpur Riders' captain Nurul Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first, but the decision quickly backfired as the team faced a devastating collapse against Guyana’s pace attack. South African pacer Dwayne Pretorius dismantled the top order, claiming the first three wickets, while Bangladesh's Tanjim Hasan Shakib bowled Soumya Sarkar for just 2 runs. By the seventh over, Rangpur was reeling at 27/5 after Mehedi Hasan fell to a catch by Imran Tahir.
Khushdil Shah and captain Nurul Hasan staged a crucial recovery for the Rangpur Riders with a 61-run partnership after the early collapse. Pakistani batter Khushdil played a standout knock, scoring 58 runs off 47 balls, including 2 fours and 4 sixes, a performance that earned him the Man of the Match award. Tanjim Hasan Shakib broke the partnership by dismissing Khushdil with a catch behind the stumps. Nurul contributed 15 runs off 26 balls before Rangpur were bowled out for 117 in their allotted 20 overs. Tanjim delivered an impressive spell, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs.
Guyana's chase mirrored Rangpur's early struggles, with their top order collapsing to 27/5. The team eventually folded for 102 runs in 19.1 overs, falling short of the target. Shai Hope was the lone bright spot for Guyana, scoring 35 runs off 44 balls. Their hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 18th over when Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain dismissed Hope. The innings concluded with Romario Shepherd's dismissal, as Kamrul Islam shone with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for just 13 runs to seal the win for Rangpur.
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
