Rangpur into playoffs, Rajshahi and Sylhet see exit door

Rangpur Riders qualified for the BPL 2017 playoffs after handing Khulna Titans a 19-run defeat at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday. In the process, Rangpur ousted Sylhet Sixers and Rajshahi Kings from the money-spinning tournament. Asked to bat first, Rangpur posted 147 for the loss of six wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, player of the match Mohammad Mithun top-scoring for his side with a 35-ball 50. Mithun hit a couple of fours and four sixes in his innings. Opener Chris Gayle chipped in with a 27-ball 38, featuring four boundaries and two over boundaries. Khulna’s Jofra Archer bagged two wickets conceding 28 runs in his quota of four overs. In reply, Khulna were restricted to 128/8 in their allotted 20 overs, opener Michael Klinger’s 45-ball 44, composed with four fours and a six, going in vain. In what was a sorry batting display by Khulna, only three batsmen – Klinger, youngster Nazmul Hossain Shanto (20) and Archer (19) – reached double digit. Seamer Ravi Bopara picked up two wickets for Rangpur. Third placed Khulna now have 13 points from 11 matches while Rangpur are fourth with 12 points from 11 games. Comilla Victorians lead the points table with 16 points from 10 matches while Dhaka Dynamites are second with three points less, having played a game more than the former. Sylhet (nine points), Rajshahi (eight) and Chittagong Vikings (five) are fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.BRIEF SCOREKhulna Titans 128/8 (Klinger 44, Bopara 2/4) lost to Rangpur Riders 147/6 (Mithun 50*, Archer 2/28) by 19 runs