Riders hunt a brace with single bullet
Barisal Bulls and Comilla Victorians say goodbye to BPL-4
Sports Reporter
Rangpur Riders simultaneously ruined the hopes of two teams Barisal Bulls and Comilla Victorians in their bid to stay alive into the top four race of the BPL-4, outplaying the former by 29 runs yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The victory after a four-match losing streak revived Rangpurs hope of moving into the top four sport which looked bleak at one phase. But they came up all guns blazing in their most crucial game.
Since four teams have 12 points now with Rajshahi (10 points) also have the chance to collect 12, Bulls and Victorians had no chance to join them. Bulls ended the tournament with eight after playing their last game while Mashrafe Bin Mortazas Comilla have 8 in 11 matches. They have one game left but that is now inconsequential for them.
Despite having a good start with batting, Rangpur couldnt keep up the rhythm and eventually was restricted to 154 for five. But their bowlers bowled well in tandem to shoot Bulls out for 125 in 18.2 overs.
Mohammad Shahzad returned to the fold after serving a one-match ban following an on field spat with Sabbir Rahman and contributed in emphatic style with a 40 ball-48 runs knock that contained with five fours and one six. He was later adjudged man of the match.
His opening partner Soumya Sarkar was out on 17 despite having a good start but Shahzad gave the side a solid platform, sharing a 76-run partnership for the second wicket with Mohammad Mithun. Most notably they brought up 100 in just 14th overs and looked set to score above 170.
Once Rayad Emrit broke the partnership, having dismissed Shahzad, Rangpurs scoring rate took a nosedive. Situation got worsened after Kamrul Islam Rabbi removed Shahid Afridi to force him continue his poor patch with batting.
But one over later, Thisara Perera dealt a mighty blow to Rangpur with the wicket of well-set Mohammad Mithun who despite a quick start, ended with 38 off 41 with one four and one six.
The next batsmen however were strangled in the face of some disciplined bowling from Bulls bowlers. Only Ziaur Rahman could take some lusty blow to help the side propel past 150 runs mark at the end.
But on a good pitch for batting, it proved tougher for Bulls. They werent as hungrier as they should be to keep them alive in the tournament.
Credit should go to Sohag Gazi also. The off-spinner bowled exceptionally well with the new ball and checked the natural flamboyance of the batsmen. He delivered four overs spell in a row and conceded just 12 runs to take two crucial wickets of Rayad Emrit and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim. It was the kind of spell that left Bulls in cornered position from which they could never recover.
After the good start of Gazi, Riders bowlers kept up the pressure and forced Bulls batsmen playing shot to throw away wicket. Only Dawid Malan was playing with assured hand and kept up the hopes of Bulls alive. Fazle Rabbi gave him a brief support with 16 ball-21 but once Afridi got him, Bulls hopes started fading and their chances were entirely diminished one over later when Anwar Ali removed Malan who score teams highest 30.
Rubel Hossain, Shahid Afridi and Liam Dawson also picked up two wickets apiece alongside Gazi.
