The Sylhet leg of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League commenced as Khulna Tigers triumphed over Rangpur Riders by 28 runs Friday.
Mohammad Nawaz's stellar fifty and Dasun Shanaka's all-round effort were instrumental in securing the victory for the Tigers, who are top with three wins from as many matches.
The Riders in contrast, are second from bottom after their second loss in three games.
The Sylhet International Stadium witnessed an almost-packed crowd, with Shakib al Hasan returning to the field despite earlier concerns about his eye condition.
Facing an early setback with the departure of skipper Anamul Haque for a duck, Khulna recovered with crucial contributions from Evin Lewis (37) and Nawaz (55).
Dasun Shanaka's brisk 40, combined with Nawaz's explosive innings, propelled the Tigers to a competitive total of 160 for six in 20 overs.
In reply, Rangpur struggled against a disciplined Khulna bowling attack, eventually getting dismissed for 132 in 18.4 overs.
Despite Mohammad Nabi's resilient 50, the Riders fell well short of the target.
9TH MATCH
Khulna Tigers 160/6 (Nawaz 55, Hasan 3/29) beat Rangpur Riders 132 in 18.4 overs (Nabi 50, Shanaka 4/16) by 28 runs
