Chittagong Challengers had a great start in the tournament. But suddenly the team got stuck in the circle of loss. With 8 points in 10 matches, the playoff game is becoming very difficult.
Chittagong’s innings stopped at 169 runs after Rangpur’s target of 188 runs on Friday (February 16). Rangpur Riders confirmed the playoffs first by winning by 18 runs.
It was not an easy target for Chittagong at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong. Chasing a target of 188 runs, Chittagong lost three wickets for 32 runs. Romario Shepherd fought alone for the team. This batsman played an unbeaten innings of 66 runs off 30 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes. And Chittagong could not reach the target because they could not provide him with suitable company.
Among Rangpur’s bowlers, Sheikh Mehdi took two wickets for 17 runs. Apart from this, Pretorius took three wickets and Hasan Mahmood took one wicket. Mehdi was the man of the match with all-round performance in batting and bowling.
Earlier, after winning the toss and batting, Rangpur Riders lost two wickets for 34 runs, but with Shakib’s determination, Rangpur Riders returned to the match. Rangpur scored 187 runs for 8 wickets against Chittagong Challengers in his back to back half century.
Opener Rony Talukder got out after the team’s 33 runs came down to bat. Then Reza Hendricks (4), Brandon King (2) and Nurul Hasan Sohan got out and Rangpur came under pressure. Shakib in the role of savior of the team in the moment of pressure. This left-handed batsman attacked the Chittagong bowlers with Sheikh Mehedi Hasan. The fifth wicket added 68 runs. Mehdi got out with a storm of 34 runs off 17 balls and 4 sixes.
Meanwhile, Shakib picked up back to back half centuries. This all-rounder scored fifty in 33 balls with 3 fours and an equal number of sixes. Shakib changed after returning from Sylhet in the second phase of BPL. Where he had four runs in the previous five matches, he now has 130 runs in the next four matches.
In the end, he played an innings of 62 runs in 39 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. After that, Rangpur collected 187 runs by Shamim Hossain Patwari’s 17 and Hasan Mahmud’s 8 runs.
Shepherd of Chittagong with the ball took 3 wickets with 27 runs in 4 overs. Salahuddin Sakil took 2 wickets and Shahidul Islam took 2 wickets.
