Rangpur dislodge Khulna from top

Rangpur Riders unseated Khulna Titans from the top of the BPL-4 point table, thrashing them by seven wickets yesterday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

Both of the team has now 10 points but Riders are ahead in terms of net run rate and moreover they played six matches in contrast of Khulna’s seven.
It was kind of revenge match for Titans after being bowled out for BPL’s lowest 44 in the first leg match against the same team but they couldn’t break the curse. This time they were restricted to yet another paltry score of 125 for seven which Riders gunned down with ease, scoring 129 for three in 19 overs.
Mohammad Mithun was unbeaten on 49 off 41, hitting one four and three sixes. But Mohammad Shahzad, their Afghanistan recruit gave the side a solid start in pursuit of a small total.
After losing Soumya Sarkar for three, Shahzad didn’t let the side to bog down as he kept hitting the ball at will. Mithun joined him and gave it the pace even though Titans bowlers’, who have the reputation of defending small total successfully, were at their best.
They lived up to their reputation but Shahzad’s sensible batting kept the side unscathed. Mithun however raised his game as the time progresses and once he got his eye in, he started taking the bowlers in disdain. Shahzad made 37 off 38 with four fours and one six after which Titans captain Mahmudullah Riyad dismissed him.
If the dismissal brought up any sense of joy, it was quickly evaporated by the way Shahid Afridi went after the bowlers. Afridi hammered 26 off 19 with two fours and a six before Titans English medium pace Benny Howell scattered his wicket with the side four short of the victory.
Liam Dawson however hit four through the short third man region to seal the victory but left Mithun one short of his second fifty in the tournament.
Junaid Khan, Benny Howell and Mahmudullah Riyad bagged one wicket apiece.
After opting to bat first, Khulna however failed to get the innings off to a good start. Left arm spinner Arafat Sunny who opened the bowling for Riders, basically strangled the innings, bowling with perfect line and length. His sly spin accounted the both openers—Abdul Majid and Andre Fletcher—leaving Titans 20 for two in fifth over.
The agony of 44 however briefly came to the mind as Titans looked vulnerable but Riki Wessels ensured there would be no nightmare this time. He played with assured hand but Titans were jolted by the departure of their inform captain Riyad who was the instrumental in Titans past wins. Riyad made just 11 before Shahid Afridi dismissed him.
However Wessels and Taibur Rahman shared 56 runs for the fourth wicket to raise the prospect of a big total. Rubel Hossain shattered the dream by removing both of the batsmen in the space of four balls, leaving Titans tittering 96 for six. Taibur scored highest 32 while Wessels made 27.
The lower order batsman couldn’t hit big at the death overs as Titans fate was sealed even before Riders started its innings. Sunny, Afridi and Rubel Hossain claimed two wickets each.

Rangpur dislodge Khulna from top

Rangpur Riders unseated Khulna Titans from the top of the BPL-4 point table, thrashing them by seven wickets yesterday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Both of the team has now 10 points but Riders are ahead in terms of net run rate and moreover they played six matches in contrast of Khulnas seven. It was kind of revenge match for Titans after being bowled out for BPLs lowest 44 in the first leg match against the same team but they couldnt break the curse. This time they were restricted to yet another paltry score of 125 for seven which Riders gunned down with ease, scoring 129 for three in 19 overs. Mohammad Mithun was unbeaten on 49 off 41, hitting one four and three sixes. But Mohammad Shahzad, their Afghanistan recruit gave the side a solid start in pursuit of a small total. After losing Soumya Sarkar for three, Shahzad didnt let the side to bog down as he kept hitting the ball at will. Mithun joined him and gave it the pace even though Titans bowlers, who have the reputation of defending small total successfully, were at their best. They lived up to their reputation but Shahzads sensible batting kept the side unscathed. Mithun however raised his game as the time progresses and once he got his eye in, he started taking the bowlers in disdain. Shahzad made 37 off 38 with four fours and one six after which Titans captain Mahmudullah Riyad dismissed him. If the dismissal brought up any sense of joy, it was quickly evaporated by the way Shahid Afridi went after the bowlers. Afridi hammered 26 off 19 with two fours and a six before Titans English medium pace Benny Howell scattered his wicket with the side four short of the victory. Liam Dawson however hit four through the short third man region to seal the victory but left Mithun one short of his second fifty in the tournament. Junaid Khan, Benny Howell and Mahmudullah Riyad bagged one wicket apiece. After opting to bat first, Khulna however failed to get the innings off to a good start. Left arm spinner Arafat Sunny who opened the bowling for Riders, basically strangled the innings, bowling with perfect line and length. His sly spin accounted the both openersAbdul Majid and Andre Fletcherleaving Titans 20 for two in fifth over. The agony of 44 however briefly came to the mind as Titans looked vulnerable but Riki Wessels ensured there would be no nightmare this time. He played with assured hand but Titans were jolted by the departure of their inform captain Riyad who was the instrumental in Titans past wins. Riyad made just 11 before Shahid Afridi dismissed him. However Wessels and Taibur Rahman shared 56 runs for the fourth wicket to raise the prospect of a big total. Rubel Hossain shattered the dream by removing both of the batsmen in the space of four balls, leaving Titans tittering 96 for six. Taibur scored highest 32 while Wessels made 27. The lower order batsman couldnt hit big at the death overs as Titans fate was sealed even before Riders started its innings. Sunny, Afridi and Rubel Hossain claimed two wickets each.