BPL 2019-20: Match 16, Review- Lewis Gregory’s brilliance script maiden triumph for Rangpur Rangers

Rangpur Rangers were nowhere in the 2019-20 Bangabandhu BPL and were in dire requisite of a victory. In their fifth match, they were up against the Chattogram Challengers at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. But the visitors soared above the expectations and garnered their maiden victory of the season by six wickets. Despite the loss, the Challengers stay at the top of the table.

Avishka scores big

The Riders did a fair job after electing to field first, restricting the in-form Challengers to 163/7. The hosts didn’t make a great start as Mustafizur Rahman cleaned up Lendl Simmons for a duck. Imrul Kayes perished to a cutter from Lewis Gregory. From there, opener Avishka Fernando (72) and Nasir Hossain put on a 44-run stand of five overs. Avishka scored most of the runs in the partnership.

Mohammad Nabi separated them, removing Nasir. Sanjit Saha got the prized scalp of Avishka. Chadwick Walton also fell cheaply, failing to repeat his heroics from the game versus Cumilla Warriors. Nurul Hasan (20), Muktar Ali (12) and Liam Plunkett (17) added some vital runs and took the hosts to a decent score. For Rangpur, Mustafizur and Lewis Gregory got two wickets each.

Gregory comes to the party

The Rangers got off to a poor start as Rubel Hossain rattled Mohammad Naim’s woodwork. Then it was Plunkett’s turn to run through Cameron Delport’s defence. Tom Abell (24) threatened with three fours, but couldn’t up the scoring rate before perishing to Rubel. Shadman Islam (16) couldn’t find his timing and got out to Mehedi Hasan Rana. The required had almost touched 10 by then.

However, Gregory didn’t allow the pressure to build and turned up with an unbeaten 76 off 37 balls with the help of six fours and five sixes. It also happened to be his highest T20 score in his 93rd match. The right-hander got to his half-century off 25 balls and was unstoppable. Gregory got the required support from Fazle Rabbi, who scored a 21-ball 38 with four fours and a couple of sixes.

Brief Scores

Chattogram Challengers: – 163/7 in 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 72, Nurul Hasan Sohan 20; Mustafizur Rahman 2/23)

Rangpur Rangers: – 167/4 in 18.4 overs (Lewis Gregory 76*, Fazle Mahmud 38*; Rubel Hossain 2/37)

Rangpur Rangers win by six wickets.