All-round Rangpur overcome Rajshahi

Rangpur Riders made a winning start in the BPL T20 2017 as they beat Rajshahi Kings by six wickets at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Saturday. Chasing Rajshahi’s 154 runs for the loss of eight wickets, Rangpur reached their target with seven balls to spare. Mithun Ali was the top-scorer for the Riders with 46 runs off 33 balls, including one boundary and three sixes. Shahriar Nafees scored 34 while England’s Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten on 39 off 23 deliveries with three fours and two huge sixers.Earlier, Rangpur captain Mashrafe won the toss and elected to bowl. Mashrafe took the new ball and bowled economically in his four overs. The right-arm pacer, who was wearing a jersey with the number “0” on his back, finished with bowling figure of 1/18, including one maiden. He also bagged the important wicket of the Kings’ highest scorer Rony Talukdar (47). Rajshahi lost some early wickets but some late blows from captain Darren Sammy of the West Indies helped them past the 150-mark. Sammy struck a timely 29 off 18 balls with one boundary and two sixers. New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin was not out on 26 at the other end.Rangpur’s Sri Lankan recruit, Lasith Malinga, who is playing in his first BPL campaign, took two wickets for 34 runs.BRIEF SCORERangpur Riders 155/4 in 18.5 overs (Mithun 46, Bopara 39*) beat Rajshahi Kings 154/8 (Rony 47, Nazmul 2/20) by six wickets