Pakistan recruit Babar Azam made an instant impact in his first match of the Bangladesh Premier League, leading Rangpur Riders to a four-wicket win over Sylhet Strikers at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Tuesday.
Babar played an unbeaten 49-ball 56 to anchor the chase in astute fashion as Rangpur recovered from 39/6 to overhaul Sylhet's paltry 120/8 in 18.2 overs.
The former Pakistan captain was ably supported by Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who blasted an undefeated 35-ball 47 with two fours and three sixes, the last of which was the winning maximum that took Rangpur to 125/6.
No other batter apart from the duo could reach double digit.
The unbroken seventh-wicket partnership held the nerve and shared 86 runs to help Rangpur secure their first victory and inflict upon Sylhet a second straight defeat.
Put in to bat first, Sylhet earlier had an abysmal start as, apart from opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who made 14, none of the other top-order batters were able to cross single digit figure.
The Strikers had slumped to 39/5.
All-rounders Benny Howell and Ben Cutting saved them from further blushes, combining for 68 for the sixth wicket.
Both the batters made identical 37.
7TH MATCH
Sylhet Strikers 120/8 (Howell 37, Mahedi 2/18) lost to Rangpur Riders 125/6 in 18.2 overs (Babar 56*, Hemantha 3/20) by 4 wickets