A breathtaking display of power hitting from Hassan Eisakhil propelled Noakhali Express to a formidable 173/2 against Rangpur Riders at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday, but Towhid Hridoy’s magnificent century ultimately powered Rangpur to a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Batting first, Noakhali recovered from a sluggish start thanks to Eisakhil’s superb unbeaten 107 from 72 balls. The opener carried his bat in an innings that was a masterclass in pacing, reaching his half-century from 50 deliveries before accelerating dramatically at the death. He struck four fours and 11 towering sixes at a strike rate of 148.61.
Rangpur’s bowlers dominated the early exchanges, restricting Noakhali to just 33 runs in the Powerplay. Nahid Rana struck first, hurrying Rahmat Ali (9) into a mistimed shot, before Aliss Al Islam removed Jaker Ali for three. By the ninth over, the Express were struggling at 39/2, with the run rate hovering below 4.5 an over.
The middle overs belonged to Rangpur, as Khushdil Shah and Aliss operated with precision to choke the boundaries and force cautious accumulation. At the 15-over mark, Noakhali had crawled to 98/2 and appeared set for a below-par total.
However, the complexion of the innings changed dramatically in the final five overs. Partnering captain Haider Ali, who remained unbeaten on 42 off 32 balls, Eisakhil forged an unbroken 137-run stand for the third wicket. Noakhali plundered 75 runs from the final 30 deliveries, including a disastrous final over from Akif Javed that conceded 28 runs, lifting the total to a competitive 173.
Despite Eisakhil’s onslaught, Rangpur’s bowlers largely kept things tight. Aliss Al Islam and Khushdil Shah were the most economical, conceding just 22 runs each from their four overs and picking up one wicket apiece.
In reply, Rangpur Riders chased down the target with ease, reaching 174/2 in 19.4 overs. Hridoy was the architect of the chase, producing a sensational 109 off 63 balls in a knock that combined authority with composure.
Hridoy’s innings was laced with 15 fours and two sixes, as he dominated the Noakhali bowling attack and ensured the required run rate never spiralled out of control. After the early dismissal of Dawid Malan for 15, Hridoy stitched together a match-defining partnership with captain Litton Das.
Litton played the perfect supporting role, remaining unbeaten on 39 from 35 deliveries, rotating the strike efficiently while allowing Hridoy to dictate the tempo. Hridoy eventually fell in the 19th over with Rangpur on the brink of victory, before Litton Das and Khushdil Shah calmly guided the Riders home.
Hasan Mahmud was the lone wicket-taker for Noakhali in the chase, finishing with figures of 1 for 23, but the rest of the bowling unit struggled to contain Rangpur’s fluent batting as the Riders completed a comprehensive win.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
