Taskin Ahmed finally fired on New Year’s Eve at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, as Rangpur Rangers beat Rajshahi Royals by 47 runs in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 Tuesday.
Rangpur posted 182/6 on the back of a half century from young Mohammad Naim, before Taskin’s four-for restricted the Royals to 135/8.
Taskin delivered the early blow when he got rid of Rangpur opener Afif Hossain for seven, with Lewis Gregory holding on to a spectacular watch.
However, the chasing side seemed to settle down and they reached 51 at the end of eighth over without losing any further wickets.
When Rangpur skipper Shane Watson again summoned Taskin, who had been struggling in the tournament before the match, the lanky pacer had a devastating impact as he got rid of Liton Das (31) and Shoaib Malik (nought) on consecutive deliveries.
Rajshahi's Andre Russell bowls Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Gregory picked up another two wickets and pushed Rajshahi on to the back foot, as they lost half of their side for 91.
The pressure was intensified by the accuracy of paceman Mustafizur Rahman, who conceded just seven runs in his first two overs.
Rajshahi captain and hard-hitting batsman Andre Russell had to up the tempo, but he became the victim of run-rate pressure when he was run out in the 17th over.
The over ended with just a leg bye thanks to the tight bowling of Mustafizur, taking Rajshahi out of the game.
Taskin finished with 4/29.
Rangpur's Mohammad Naim plays a shot Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Earlier in the day, after losing the toss, the Rangpur openers got off to a brisk start.
They added 38 in four overs before Watson perished for seven.
Naim held the innings together at one end and scored 55 off 47 deliveries, while Cameron Delport and Gregory scored 31 off 17 and 28 off 17, respectively, to keep the run rate ticking.
Jahurul Islam (19 off 8) and Al Amin (15 off 10) finished not out and accelerated the innings to help the cause.
Gregory was adjudged man of the match.
28TH MATCH, RPRvRR
RANGPUR RANGERS INNINGS R B
Naim c & b Rabbi 55 47
Watson c Rabbi b Afif 7 7
Delport c & b Afif 31 17
Gregory c Russell b Irfan 28 17
Nabi c Afif b Farhad Reza 16 12
Fazle c Malik b Irfan 0 3
Al-Amin not out 15 10
Jahurul not out 19 8
Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 9) 11
Total (20 Overs) 182/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-38 (Watson), 2-92 (Delport), 3-110 (Naim), 4-146 (Gregory), 5-146 (Fazle), 6-148 (Nabi)
Bowling
Russell 0.3-0-11-0, Malik 2.3-0-6-0, Irfan 4-0-35-2, Taijul 2-0-23-0 Afif 4-0-40-2, Nahidul 3-0-17-0, Kapali 1-0-10-0, Rabbi 1-0-15-1, Farhad 2-0-24-1
RAJSHAHI ROYALS INNINGS R B
Liton c Al-Amin b Taskin 15 17
Afif c Gregory b Taskin 7 11
Kapali c Naim b Gregory 31 28
Malik b Taskin 0 1
Bopara c Sunny b Gregory 28 19
Nahidul c Jahurul b Nabi 19 15
Russell run out (Naim/Mustafizur) 17 7
Farhad c Nabi b Taskin 0 2
Taijul not out 4 11
Rabbi not out 5 9
Extras (lb 1, w 8) 9
Total (20 Overs) 135/8
Fall Of Wickets
1-12 (Afif), 2-51 (Liton), 3-51 (Malik), 4-64 (Kapali), 5-91 (Bopara), 6-118 (Nahidul), 7-118 (Russell), 8-119 (Farhad)
Bowling
Sunny 4-0-32-0, Mustafizur 4-1-16-0, Taskin 4-0-29-4, Gregory 4-0-28-2, Nabi 4-0-29-1
Rangpur Rangers won by 47 runs
MoM: Lewis Gregory (RPR)