BPL 2017, Match 2 Review: Rangpur Riders beat Rajshahi Kings by 6 wickets

Rangpur Riders got off to a flying start as they defeated Rajshahi Kings by six wickets at Sylhet International Stadium on November 4. Mohammad Mithun scored 46 while Ravi Bopara (39) and Thisara Perera scored 20 to help Rangpur win their opening match of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2017.

Rajshahi Kings batting first posted a decent 155 runs target for the Rangpur Riders at Sylhet International Stadium on Sunday (November 4) in the second game of the day. Riding on Ronny Talukdar and Darren Sammy’s 47 and 29 Rajshahi managed to post 154 for 8 on board.

In reply to Rajshahi’s total Rangpur got off to a bad start. However, Mithun’s breezy 46 and Nafees’ 35 helped Rangpur to set a platform for middle order batsmen Bopara and Perara. Earlier, Rangpur bowlers Lasith Malinga and Nazmul Islam picked up two wickets each while Jonathan Charles took one wicket. Good bowling and solid fielding helped Rangpur to restrict Rajshahi for 154 in stipulated 20 overs.

Rajshahi got off to a bad start

Rajshahi didn’t begin the match on a positive note as their opening pair Luke Wright and Monimul Haque got out cheaply. Talukdar and Malinga salvaged the innings while James Franklin ended the innings on unbeaten 26 to set a competitive total for Rangpur.

Rangpur in reply chased down the total with seven balls in hand. While commencing the chase opening duo Jonathan Charles and Adam Lyth got dismissed for nine and duck. However, a bad start didn’t affect their chase as Mohammad Mithur set the inning on pace with his quick 33 balls 46. His innings was comprised of one boundary and three sixes.

After Kesrick Williams dismissed him Shahriar Nafees (35) and Ravi Bopara took the responsibility to carry on the innings. However, Franklin sent Nafees back home. Two back to back wickets slowed down Rangpur’s innings. With new batsman Thisara Perera joined Bopara, Rangpur didn’t lose any more wicket to reach home.

Brief Scores:

Rajshahi Kings- 154/8 in 20 overs (Rony Talukdar 47; Nazmul Islam 2/20)

Rangpur Riders- 155/4 in 18.5 overs (Mohammad Mithun 46, Ravi Bopara 39; Mehidy Hasan 1/31)