Twitter Reactions: Rilee Rossouw and bowlers set up maiden triumph for Rangpur Riders in this BPL
The Titans stuttered in the second-half of their run chase.
After their defeat against Chittagong Vikings, Rangpur Riders made a stupendous comeback in this edition’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and beat Khulna Titans, led by Mahmudullah Riyad, by eight runs at Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium. Farhad Reza needed 20 runs to defend in the last over and he did so expertly. The Titans would be disappointed with the loss despite having five wickets in hand.
Rossouw steps on the gas
The Titans won the toss and elected to field first, but the Riders put on a substantial 169 runs in 20 overs. USA speedster Ali Khan nipped out Mehedi Maruf in the fourth over. Alex Hales promised with a four and a six, however, was trapped in front by chinaman bowler Zahir Khan. Mohammad Mithun fell prey to medium pacer Carlos Brathwaite after scoring 19 runs with the help of three boundaries.
After 9.5 overs, Rangpur Riders found themselves in a tricky situation. Nevertheless, the team, captained by Mashrafe Mortaza, racked up 104 runs in the next 61 balls. South African batsman Rilee Rossouw played some glorious strokes and raced away to 76 runs from 52 balls with eight fours and a couple of sixes. Ravi Bopara also enacted his role to perfection with a knock of 40 runs with three fours and a six.
Titans crumble under pressure
The Titans made an incredible start to the run-chase courtesy of the 90-run stand off 67 balls between Paul Stirling and Junaid Siddiqui. Even as Stirling went after the bowling, Siddiqui played the sheet anchor’s role. English fast bowler Benny Howell broke the stand, dismissing Siddiqui for 33 runs with three fours and a six. Pacer Shafiul Islam got rid of the left-handed Nazmul Hossain Shanto in the very next over.
Mortaza delivered a body blow as he churned out the wicket of Stirling, who scored 61 runs from 46 balls. At that point in time, the Titans required 62 runs from 40 balls. The onus was then on Anamul Haque and the experienced Mahmudullah, who perished after scoring 24 runs from 17 balls. In the end, the Riders’ bowlers held their nerve and denied the Titans a winning start to the T20 tournament.
Here is how Twitter reacted
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