In the end, Mahmudullah Riad and Khushdil Shah's stormy batting helped Rangpur Riders claim their third consecutive win in a tense match. Rangpur has moved up to the top after defeating Chattogram Royals by 5 wickets in the clash between the two teams at the top of the points table.
After losing the toss and electing to bat at the Sylhet International Stadium on Monday, Chattogram Royals scored 169 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, Rangpur reached the target with 5 wickets in 7 balls.
Opener Adam Rossington scored a fifty for the third consecutive match in the Chattogram innings. He scored 58 runs off 41 balls. He was joined by Hasan Nawaz for 82 runs off 61 balls. Nawaz played a great innings, 46 runs off 38 balls on his BPL debut. In the end, Amir Jamal added 19 runs off 10 balls and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan added 13 runs off 7 balls to give Chattogram the capital to fight.
Rangpur's run chase started aggressively. Kyle Myers went on the attack from the start. Although the play was stopped for a while due to floodlight problems after the third over, the Caribbean all-rounder took a terrible turn as soon as the game started. He scored 50 runs in just 25 balls to give the team a solid foundation. His partnership with Dawd Malan added 61 runs in 27 balls.
When Malan was dismissed for 30 runs in 30 balls, the pressure on Rangpur increased again. After Myers and Malan returned, 41 runs were needed in the last four overs.
At that moment of pressure, Mahmudullah Riyad took charge. He took control of the match by hitting three fours and a six in one over off Amir Jamal. In the next over, Khushdil Shah made it easy for Shariful Islam to win by hitting two fours and a six.
Mahmudullah scored an unbeaten 30 runs in 19 balls, while Khushdil Shah was dismissed for 22 runs in 12 balls. By then, Rangpur's victory was assured.
As a result of this victory, Rangpur Riders climbed to the top of the points table by winning three consecutive matches, while Chattogram Royals lost the top spot after losing a crucial match.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
