Rajshahi win over Rangpur

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Duronto Rajshahi moved to the third slot of the points table in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 as they notched an emphatic 7-wicket victory over Rangpur Riders at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the city Monday, reports UNB. Batting first after winning the toss, Rangpur Riders scored 163 for 3 in quota 20 overs, riding on opener Shamsur Rahman Shuvo's 57-ball 68 and another opener Junaid Siddique's quickfire 16-ball 31 runs. Chasing 164 for win, Duronto Rajshahi openers Charles Coventry and Tamim Iqbal gave a precise start scoring 51 runs for no loss in the first power plays (5 overs). Coventry took some chances opening up his stumps. He smacked two sixes over long on and mid wicket, and produced reverse sweep for boundary while Tamim handed some powerful blows going down the track. The pair in the 1st wicket added 95 runs in 11.1 overs before Tamim gave a catch at long to Nasir Hossain off a Taposh Ghosh delivery. Tamim scored 50 runs off 36 balls with four fours and two sixes. Coventry scored 47 runs off 35 balls with four fours and two sixes before he went back to the pavilion in the 13th over (105-2). One down Dilshan Munaweera (8) followed him after Cameron Borgas pulled off an amazing catch on the ropes in mid wicket. The ball was hit hard and Borgas taking the catch with a jump was about to fall over the ropes, but he threw the ball up and grasped it later balancing himself with great tact. Requiring 32 runs in the last 4 overs, two down Jahurul Islam Aumie kept things under control as Rajshahi went home. Jahurul hit a six straight down the ground to take Rajshahi total to 168 for 3 to win the match with one over to spare. Jahurul hammered 18-ball 38 with three sixes and two fours while his partner, Sean Ervine scored 14 runs off 11 balls. Irish Kevin O'Brien remained the pick of the Rangpur bowlers with 17-1 in his 3 overs. Earlier, in the Rangpur innings, the opening stand brought 60 runs in the first 7 overs giving a blistering start for the Riders. But a seemingly unwanted comfort level slowed down the progress as the 2nd wicket partnership brought 55 runs (off 51 balls) for Rangpur. One down Nasir Hossain, sent up the order, scored 30 runs off 29 balls with two sixes and a four. However, in the last 27 balls of the Rangpur innings, batsmen managed 48 runs to post a challenging total of 163. Two down Australian Cameron Borgas played an unbeaten 22-run knock off 12 balls that featured four fours while Jamaican Danza Hyatt remained not out on 10 off 6 balls. Rajshahi slow left-arm Monir Hossain checked the runs with an economical spell of 23-1 in 4 overs while another left-arm spinner Naeem Islam Jr gave 28 runs in his 4 overs. Tamim Iqbal was named player of the match. Duronto Rajshahi now have eight points with four wins from eight matches as Chittagong Kings follow them with six points from seven matches.