Rangpur Riders won their second match in consecutive days after overcoming Sylhet Strikers while Khulna Tigers beat Chittagong Kings to begin the campaign with victory on the second day of the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 in Mirpur Tuesday.
Rangpur defeated Sylhet by 34 runs in the evening encounter at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, after Khulna outclassed Chittagong by 37 runs in the afternoon clash at the same venue.
Asked to bat first on the last day of year 2024, the Tigers posted 203 for the loss of four wickets with opener William Bosisto top-scoring with an unbeaten 50-ball 75, studded with eight fours and three sixes.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam Ankon was also not out after hammering a 22-ball 59, decorated with half a dozen maximums and one boundary.
Mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam and pacer Khaled Ahmed bagged two wickets each for the port city outfit.
In reply, the Kings lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually skittled out for 166 with seven deliveries of their innings remaining.
Shamim Hossain was the only one to offer resistance with a stunning 38-ball 78, laced with seven fours and five sixers.
Seamer Abu Haider Rony led the way for Khulna with four wickets while Pakistani recruit Mohammad Nawaz picked up two.
Later in the evening, the Riders, batting first, registered 155 on the board losing six wickets, thanks to a couple of 40-odd knocks from Pakistani batter Iftikhar Ahmed (47*) and captain Nurul Hasan (41).
Pace bowlers Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Al Amin Hossain took two scalps apiece for the Strikers.
Only three Sylhet batters reached double digit chasing 156 as they finished on 121/9; opener Rony Talukdar scoring team-highest 41.
Young pace sensation Nahid Rana starred for Rangpur, grabbing four wickets, while seamer Saifuddin and Pakistani all-rounder Khushdil Shah bagged two each.
3RD MATCH
Khulna Tigers 203/4 (William 75, Ankon 59*) beat Chittagong Kings 166 in 18.5 overs (Shamim 78, Rony 4/44) by 37 runs
4TH MATCH
Rangpur Riders 155/6 (Iftikhar 47*, Nurul 41) beat Sylhet Strikers 121/9 (Rony 41, Nahid 4/27) by 34 runs
