Commanding Rajshahi open account

Rajshahi Kings posted a commanding display and defeated Rangpur Riders by eight wickets in their BPL 2017 match at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Saturday. Chasing 135, Rajshahi cruised to their target in just 16.4 overs losing only two wickets. It was a much needed win for Rajshahi as they lost their previous two games in the Sylhet phase of the money-spinning tournament. Rajshahi openers Mominul Haque and Lendl Simmons batted comfortably and formed a 122-run partnership. Rangpur fielder Nazmul Islam put down an easy catch of Mominul in the third over. Later, the Rangpur bowlers were not able to create enough chances to restrict Rajshahi. Simmons got run out in the 16th over scoring 53 off 50 balls but the game was nearly over then as Rajshahi were only 13 runs away from victory. The right-hander struck four boundaries and a six during his innings. Mominul remained not out at the other end with a brilliant innings of 63 off 44 balls. The diminutive left-hander smashed four fours and three sixers - one each against Rangpur captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza, pacer Lasith Malinga and Nazmul. Mominul was adjudged man of the match. Earlier, Rangpur won the toss and elected to bat. Rajshahi captain Darren Sammy was injured and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur replaced him as skipper. Rangpur were off to a bad start as Rajshahi all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz struck in the first over by getting rid of opener Johnson Charles. Rajshahi seamer Farhad Reza’s two wickets in the fourth over pegged Rangpur back from scoring free runs.

The Kings did a really good job to keep the Riders under control and then the Kings' openers did the damage. The Riders fought well, but it was not their day.#RRvRK#BPLSeason5Download links Android: https://t.co/Abt7HkcJkRiOS: https://t.co/ZUouIT1fiB pic.twitter.com/hOZMZ3baHB

— BPLT20 (@Official_BPLT20) November 11, 2017

England’s Ravi Bopara and the veteran Shahriar Nafees then added 49 for the fourth wicket but the Rajshahi bowlers chipped away with a good line and length, restricting the opposition from running away with the match. Eventually, Rangpur managed to score only 134 for the loss of five wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. Bopara was the highest scorer for Rangpur with 54 off 51 balls. Farhad took two wickets conceding 28 runs while West Indies’ Kesrick Williams, New Zealand’s James Franklin and Miraz took one apiece.BRIEF SCORERajshahi Kings 138/2 in 16.4 overs (Mominul 63*, Simmons 53) beat Rangpur Riders 134/5 (Bopara 54, Farhad 2/28) by eight wickets  WHAT THEY SAIDMashrafe bin Mortaza, Rangpur Riders captainBatsmen took too much time to adjust in the middle. Although local players are used to this kind of wicket, they did not strike the ball well. We started the innings well. At one stage we scored 30 in the first three overs. But two wickets in the same over pegged us back. During our bowling, we dropped a catch early. If we had gotten Mominul’s [Haque] wicket early, then it could have been more competitive. And also we scored at least 15-20 runs short in the end. And also, I think I misjudged the pitch. The coach (Tom Moody) suggested me to take fielding but I took the decision of batting. So in that case I think we had a miscommunication.Mominul Haque, Rajshahi Kings openerI think I played my natural game. I think a batsman has to set a target that he should finish the game rather than scoring 40 and getting out. I tried to remain until the end while chasing. I am trying to improve this side of my batting and happy that I was unbeaten while chasing. I think fielding first helped us. Generally at the Mirpur wickets, bowlers get help in the first few overs. So it helped us and when we went to bat it became easy for batting.