DHAKA: Rangpur Riders beat Chittagong Vikings by two wickets in the thrilling opening match of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2015 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in city’s Mirpur on Sunday.

In response to Vikings’ mammoth 187-run, Rangpur Riders lost four wickets when they were on 23-run in 4.3-over.

Mohammad Amir took his career best four wickets while Taskin, Shafiul and Chigumbura took one wicket each.

However, Riders’ batsmen Misbah-ul-Haque and Al-Amin brought their innings on track scoring 64-run in next eight over. Al-Amin took 38-run off 28-ball. The score was 87 for 5 when Al-Amin was out on 12.3-Over.

Later, it was NLTC Perera, who injected the chasing spirit scoring 43-run off 17-ball with the help of four 4’s and three 6’s. Misbah and Perera built 80-run partnership in just 5.5-over. Misbah scored a scintillating 61-run off 39-ball while holding the helm of Riders’ innings.

Later, Darren Sammy hit 18-run off 10-ball before returning to pavilion in the penultimate ball of the match when Riders’ needed 1-run off 1-ball. Saqlain Sajib hit the winning run.

Earlier in the day, after winning the toss Vikings’ Captain Tamim Iqbal elected to bat first in the match that started at 2:00pm.

He scored a stroke-full 51-run off 30-ball with the help of six 4’s and one 6. Besides, Anamul Haque and TM Dilshan scored 36 and 29 runs.

Rangpur’s Saqlain Sajib bowled well in the middle overs and put the brakes on Vikings’ scoring rate of taking three wickets giving away only 26-run in his four overs. He was supported well by Abu Jayed who took two wickets.

But, Rangpur Riders let it slip a little in the final five overs when BMAJ Mendis came in the crease. He sent the ball in every nook and corners of the ground scoring 39-run off 18-ball only. He hit three 6’s and three 4’s. However, it was not enough to girdle the Rangpur Riders.

BDST: 1817 HRS, NOV 22, 2015
SR/SMS