The Rajshahi Royals have registered a comprehensive victory over Sylhet Thunder, beating the home side by six wickets in the Bangabandhu Premier League T20 match between the sides at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Sylhet won the toss and elected to bat first, but only managed to post 143/6 in their stipulated 20 overs.
Openers Andre Fletcher (25 runs off 33 balls) and Abdul Mazid (16 off 11) gave Sylhet a decent start, while Mohammad Mithun top scored for the side with 47 off 38 deliveries. Sherfane Rutherford also chipped in with a quick fire 25 off 11 balls, but the other batsmen never got a hold of the Royals bowlers as the innings petered out.
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Sylhet were looking steady at one point with Mithun and Rutherford at the crease, but never recovered after confusion between the two led the former to being run out. Royals leg-spinner Alok Kapali then tightened the screws further, giving away 14 runs but picking up two wickets in his only over.
Chasing the total, the Royals never looked in danger of losing the match. Opener Afif Hossain led the way with a score of 46 off 30 balls, while his opening partner Liton Das struck 36 off 20 deliveries. Number three batsman and skipper Shoaib Malik kept the scoreboard ticking with 27 off 22 balls, before Mohammad Nawaz sealed the win in style with a six.
Nawaz finished the innings unbeaten on 17 off just seven balls.
Delwar Hossain took two wickets for Sylhet, while Rutherford took one, as the Royals finished on 145/4. Afif Hossain was run out.
34TH MATCH, RRvST
SYLHET THUNDER INNINGS R B
Fletcher run out (Liton) 25 33
Mazid b Jayed 16 11
Charles c Sukkur b Irfan 8 7
Mithun run out (Rabbi/Irfan) 47 38
Rutherford c Malik b Kapali 25 11
Gazi st Sukkur b Kapali 0 1
Milon not out 13 11
Delwar not out 2 8
Extras (lb 6, w 1) 7
Total (20 Overs) 143/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-26 (Mazid), 2-36 (Charles), 3-68 (Fletcher), 4-115 (Mithun), 5-116 (Gazi), 6-129 (Rutherford)
Bowling
Nawaz 4-0-15-0, Jayed 4-0-29-1, Irfan 4-0-18-1, Rabbi 4-0-28-0, Farhad 1-0-11-0, Malik 1-0-19-0, Kapali 1-0-14-2, Bopara 1-0-3-0
RAJSHAHI ROYALS INNINGS R B
Liton lbw b Rutherford 36 20
Afif run out (Nazmul/Mithun) 46 30
Malik c Mazid b Delwar 27 22
Sukkur b Delwar 10 9
Bopara not out 1 4
Nawaz not out 17 7
Extras (b 1, nb 1, w 6) 8
Total (15.1 Overs) 145/4
Fall Of Wickets
1-59 (Liton), 2-94 (Afif), 3-125 (Sukkur), 4-127 (Malik)
Bowling
Ebadat 3-0-32-0, Naveen 3-0-34-0, Rutherford 4-0-31-1, Nazmul 3-0-36-0, Delwar 2.1-0-11-2
Rajshahi Royals won by six wickets
MoM: Afif Hossain (RR)
