Rangpur Riders bagged full points from a nail-biting run-fest against Chittagong Vikings to kick-start their Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 campaign yesterday. The momentum of the match tilted both ways before a planned attack from the Riders secured them the two-wicket win off the last ball. Needing just one off the final ball to win, Saqlain Sajib’s straight bat was enough to beat the closing fielder as the Riders tent erupted in jubilation after chasing the steep target of 188 at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium.
Misbah-ul Haq, who is often criticised for his slow approach, slammed the Chittagong bowlers to all parts of the ground after he managed to stay firm and pull the Riders out of their early miseries. His 39-ball 61 proved to be the master-stroke while Thisara Perera complemented his Pakistani partner with a hurricane innings, scoring 43 from just 17 balls.
After posting the challenging total on the back of Tamim Iqbal’s half-century, Vikings almost ran away with the game by reducing Riders to just 23/4 inside four overs, courtesy of Mohammad Amir’s opening spell.
When Shakib al Hasan walked back scoring just one leaving Riders at 23 for four, the game was believed to be over as none imagined Misbah or Perera alone could pull it off.
Opening alongside Lendl Simmons, Soumya Sarkar greeted Taskin Ahmed with two fours and a six in the second over. However, Soumya’s outburst was short-lived as Amir trapped him leg-before in the next over.
The rebuilding process began with Misbah pairing up with Al Amin, who impressed during his 38-run stay. Despite their 64-run fifth-wicket partnership, the Vikings looked well on course for a comfortable win as Riders still needed 88 off the last 34 balls.
But the Vikings bowlers and supporters had no answer to the barbaric onslaught from Perera and Misbah as the duo, along with Darren Sammy, smashed 15, 16, 21, eight and 14 off the last five overs.
Amir almost pulled back the result in favour of the Vikings by returning Perera and Misbah off consecutive deliveries, adding another twist in the penultimate over.
But Sammy struck a vital four off Amir to reduce the margin to 14 in the last over. After a dot first up by Shafiul Islam, the West Indian lofted a six over cover and followed it up with a wristy four through point. Although he was run out attempting a two in the fifth ball, Saqlain only had to put bat on ball to ensure a majestic win.
Earlier, Tamim belted 51 off just 32 balls as he and Tillakaratne Dilshan gave the Vikings a rapid start, racing to 50 inside four overs. However, left-arm spinner Saqlain came on and tightened the screws from then onwards as he removed Tamim, Anamul Haque and Zia to trigger a setback in the Chittagonian charge.