Fast bowler Wahab Riaz claimed 4/14 in a gem of pace bowling display while opener Tamim Iqbal hit a half-century as Khulna Tigers snapped their losing streak, crushing Rangpur Riders by nine wickets in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city Tuesdat.
Pakistan recruit Wahab's fiery spell was too much to handle as Rangpur were skittled out for a meager 129 in 20 overs before Tamim played a pivotal role, hammering an unbeaten 47-ball 60 that helped Khulna gun down the target, with 10 balls to spare.
It was Khulna's first victory in the tournament in fourth attempt.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy was not out on 38 runs from 42 balls, clattering two fours and a six, which sealed the deal emphatically.
Munim Shahriar, who opened the innings with Tamim, made a run-a-ball-21 with three fours and was the only batter to get dismissed when Rangpur's Afghan recruit Azmatullah Omarzai had him caught by Shoaib Malik.
But Tamim and Joy were untroubled throughout their 89-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket stand as they treated the Rangpur bowlers with disdain to script the side's comprehensive win.
Tamim smote four fours and two sixes in his first half-century this season.
After being asked to bat first, Rangpur suffered a huge setback, losing in-form opener Rony Talukdar for a second ball-duck.
Nahidul Islam, who took the scalp of Rony, then initiated another blow, removing Mohammad Naim for 13.
Rangpur got a glimmer of hope when Parvez Hossain and Mahedi Hasan were going along well.
But Wahab got into the act, getting rid of Parvez for 25 and then with able support from Amad Butt he scythed down Rangpur's middle-order in no time.
Mahedi battled hard before getting dismissed by Butt for 38.
Rakibul Hasan was the other batter to reach double digit mark with 12.
Butt took 3/19 to complement Wahab's four-wicket haul.
Nahidul picked up 2/23.
Sublime Liton consigns Sylhet to first defeat
Liton Das struck an eye-catching 42-ball 70 on a difficult pitch as Comilla Victorians handed Sylhet Strikers their first defeat, securing a five-wicket victory.
Sylhet, who won five straight matches before tasting their first defeat, recovered from a shaky 53/7 to post 133/7, a score that looked challenging on this slow pitch.
But Liton took the pitch out of the equation with a jaw-dropping knock that sailed the side home with an over to spare.
The magnitude of Liton's highly classical knock was evidenced in how the other batters of Comilla struggled.
The second best knock came from Johnson Charles who struck an unbeaten 18 and was key in holding together the innings after Liton's dismissal.
When Liton was dismissed after hammering seven fours and four sixes in his 42-ball 70-run knock, Comilla looked to close in on victory as they needed just 23 runs from 33 balls.
But since the pitch was difficult for the new batters, Sylhet still had the chance.
Charles held his nerve to ensure that Liton's magnificent knock wouldn't go in vain.
Liton unleashed some beautiful shots to make Sylhet bowlers go disarray right from the beginning.
Even though Mohammad Rizwan was run out for 15 and captain Imrul Kayes got out for 18, Liton's knock denied Sylhet's supremacy over Comilla.
Eventually his knock proved to be vital in Comilla's second straight victory after three defeats in a row in the tournament.
Such was Liton's impact that Sylhet captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza's excellent bowling (4-0-19-2) went in vain.
Sylhet were on the verge of getting bowled out below 100 after being left reeling on 53/7 in 9.3 overs.
Thisara Perera and Imad Wasim counter-attacked in style to add 80 runs off just 63 balls for the unbroken eighth wicket stand, which gave them a good total to defend.
Perera was not out on 43 off 31, hitting two fours and as many sixes, while Imad hit an unbeaten 40 off 33 balls, including three fours and one six.
Mushfiqur Rahim added 16 while opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored 13.
Hasan Ali and Mukidul Islam Mugdho claimed two wickets apiece for Comilla.
