Rangpur Riders made themselves a contender to finish in the top two of the Bangladesh Premier League group phase after comprehensively beating Chattogram Challengers by seven wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Wednesday.
After this victory, Rangpur moved up to second position with 16 points, same as Comilla Victorians, who are in third position due to inferior net run rate, reports BSS.
Rangpur will take on Comilla in the last match Friday, a game that will decide who will take on Sylhet Strikers in the first Qualifier.
The team which will be defeated will take on Fortune Barishal in the Eliminator.
Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf and Afghanistan recruit Rahmanullah Gurbaz were instrumental in the facile win, playing their part excellently with cherry and willow.
Rauf undid the batters with raw pace and claimed 2/14, a performance that restricted Chattogram to 132/8.
Gurbaz in his first match this season made an immediate impact with a whirlwind 30-ball 46 as Rangpur raced to victory, making 135/3 in just 16 overs.
Chasing a moderate target, Mohammad Naim gave the side a solid start as he struck 20 off 12 that included three fours and one six.
Fellow opener Rony Talukdar was comparatively sedate but his 28 off 27 helped the side make steady progress.
The chase got the pace after the arrival of Gurbaz who lived up to his big-hitting reputation, smashing Chattogram bowlers to all corners of the park.
He hit seven fours and one six but one shot too many caused his dismissal.
Before being out, he took the side on the verge of the victory, which was materialized by captain Nurul Hasan and English recruit Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
Kohler-Cadmore, who struck the winning boundary, was not out on 20 while Nurul was unbeaten on 15.
Rauf intimidated Chattogram batters after they elected to bat first.
After spinner Rakibul Hasan broke through with the wicket of Max O' Dowd, Rauf got into the act to terrorize the opposition line-up.
The other bowlers also came up to complement his effort as Chattogram found it tough to deal with proceedings.
Rakibul ended with 2/26.
Chattogram went past the 100-run mark thanks to Ziaur Rahman who led the side in this match in the absence of Shuvagata Hom and scored 33 off 24 with two fours and three sixes.
Tawfique Khan was the other notable scorer with 28 while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury added 17.
