Half centuries from Rilee Rossouw (64 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50) powered Khulna Tigers to thrash Chattogram Challengers by eight wickets in the second match of the day two of the Akash-DTH Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur yesterday. By the instrumentality of winning the match, the Tigers tasted their first victory and halted the Challengers’ winning streak what they began beating Sylhet Thunder in the BPL curtain raiser by five wickets. BPL Khulna Team lost Nazmul Hossain Shanto cheaply while chasing the fighting target of 145 run. Since then, Rilee Rossouw and Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit 70 runs for the second-wicket stand that placed them in an

advantageous position. Gurbaz played a ruthless innings and slammed the second fastest half-century after Ahmed Shehzad, who blasted half-century from 16 balls in BPL’s maiden edition (2012). Afghan batsman took two balls more than Shehzad to bring up his fifty. He was out in the next ball when going for yet another big shot to Muktar Ali. He smashed two sixes and as many fours. He finally clubbed five sixes and four boundaries in his 19-ball 50.

Rilee Rossouw later notched up his half century and slotted the team with Captain Mushfiqur Rahim without losing any wicket. Rossouw, who was the highest scorer in the previous edition of the BPL, remained not out on 64. He smoked seven fours and two sixes in his 38-ball knock and was named player of the match. Mushfiqur, who finished in emphatic way hitting the winning boundary, made 22-ball 28 with four fours.

Earlier, Chattogram Challengers brought three changes in their playing XI to carry on the winning momentum. They fielded Lendl Simmons, Kesrick Williams and Enamul Haque Jr in place of Avishka Fernando, Ryan Burl and Zuniad Siddique. Besides, Challengers captain Rayan Emrit changed their batting line-up too. He brought Chadwick Walton up to open with Lendl Simmons, who arrived in Dhaka after finishing India tour along with Kesrick Williams.

Asked to bat first after losing the flip of the match, the duo was playing Khulna’s bowlers effortlessly and hitting sixes and fours while gradually building a good partnership. Khulna Tigers’ captain Mushfiqur Rahim recalled local bowlers after Mohammad Amir and Robbie Frylinck to get a breakthrough. Pacer Shafiul Islam delivered the much-needed breakthrough for Khulna Tigers in his second over, when he rattled the stumps behind Lendl Simmons with a beautiful delivery. Simmons was bowled after scoring 26.

Just four runs later, pacer Shahidul Islam removed Chadwick Walton in the very next over that halted the run spree for a while. Walton made run-a-ball 18 with two fours and a six.

Imrul Kayes, who guided Challengers only a day ago to register their first victory, started playing with open hand and hit Shahidul for a six before being run out by Mushfiq. He made a 14-ball 12.

Nasir Hossain then combined 37 runs for the 4th-wicket stand with Nurul Hasan Sohan and crossed the 100-run mark, but Sohan followed the suits of Imrul having been run out by Mushfiq.

By then, Aminul Islam Biplob got rid of Nasir when he was caught and bowled by young the leg spinner after scoring 24. Rabbie Frylinck curtailed Captain Rayad Emrit’s stay at wickets, while they were tattering at 118 for six.

Muktar Ali’s late fire finally gave the team total some respectability as he hammered four sixes in his unbeaten 14-ball 29. Rubel Hossain standing at the other end was six not out.