Rampant Raza inspire Chittagong

Home team Chittagong Vikings registered a comprehensive 40-run win against Sylhet Sixers in their BPL 2017 match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium Friday. Chasing a massive target of 212, Sylhet only managed to score 171 losing eight wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. Sylhet were well on course to chasing down the mammoth target inside the first 10 overs at least. Opener Andre Fletcher scored a quickfire half-century before getting out for 71 off 46 balls with eight boundaries and four sixes. But as soon as Fletcher got out in the 14th over, Sylhet lost the plot and eventually fell 40 short. Earlier, Sylhet captain Nasir Hossain opted to field first. Chittagong opener Luke Ronchi yet again gave his side a good start as the right-hander scored 41 off 25 balls with half a dozen fours and a sixer. But it was middle-order batsman Sikandar Raza who played an outstanding innings to help the Vikings get past the 200-run mark. Raza smashed 95 off just 45 balls with nine boundaries and six sixes. The Zimbabwean registered his highest score in T20 cricket but missed a well deserved century by just five runs when he was caught at the boundary in the last over of the innings. No 4 batsman Stiaan van Zyl provided valuable support, scoring 40 off 26 balls. Raza was adjudged man of the match for his magnificent knock.BRIEF SCORESylhet Sixers 171/8 (Fletcher 71, Taskin 3/31) lost to Chittagong Vikings 211/5 (Raza 95, Ronchi 41) by 40 runs