Vikings stun Riders in BPL opener

Chittagong Vikings started their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 campaign with a stunning three-wicket victory over defending champions Rangpur Riders on Saturday, reports UNB.

South African all-rounder Robbie Frylinck drove Shafiul Islam for a boundary through the cover in the first ball of the last over to score match-winner 101 for 7 in 19.1 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city.

Frylinck grabbed four wickets for 14 runs, was adjudged man of the match.

Vikings skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and sent Riders to bat. The defending champions were all out for 98 runs in 20 overs.

Afghan opener Mohammad Shehzad and Cameron Delport added 15 runs to Vikings in opening stand. Riders captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza scalped Delport to make a breakthrough for his team.

Their effort to defend a low total of 98 continued when Shafiul took the wicket of Mohammad Ashraful.

Former Bangladesh captain Ashraful failed to impress in his first T20 appearance after six years after adding only 3 runs off 5 balls. The right-handed batsman skid a low-ball of Shafiul and Alex Hales took an easy catch.

Mushfiqur (25 off 31 balls) and Shehzad added 30 runs in the third wicket stand. Shehzad fell for 27 off 23 balls on a delivery by Benny Howell. Vikings lower order Nayeem Hasan made run a ball 10 with a boundary.

Mashrafe took two wickets for 24 runs. Earlier, Ravi Bopara was the only batsman to offer some resistance for Riders scoring 41 runs off 47 deliveries including three fours and two sixes - the best score by a Riders batsman. Shohag Gazi made 21 off 17 balls.