BPL 2017, Match 7 Preview: Rangpur Riders vs Chittagong Vikings
Rangpur Riders were clinical in their opening game, which came way back on the opening day and the Vikings had a forgettable start to their campaign.
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After a stupendous performance in their opening game, Rangpur Riders will be up against Chittagong Vikings for their second encounter. With Ravi Bopara chipping in with a crucial inning, Rangpur sailed over the shore easily but Chittagong was off to a dizzy start to their new campaign.
Their openers Luke Ronchi and Soumya Sarkar provided a decent start, but the Vikings deliriously fell off their track and scored just 42 runs in their final 8 overs. The bowlers couldn’t do much after a such a horrendous batting display and Misbah-ul-Haq will be keen to correct these minor glitches in the next game.
Rangpur Riders were clinical in their opening game, which came way back on the opening day. Mohammad Mithun and Ravi Bopara came in good with the willow and this helped them chase down the target easily. Skipper Mortaza chipped with a 1/18 spell in his four overs and other bowlers did a decent job as well.
Toss: Rangpur Riders won the toss and opted to field
Chittagong Vikings (Playing XI): Luke Ronchi(w), Soumya Sarkar, Dilshan Munaweera, Anamul Haque, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Luis Reece, Sikandar Raza, Tanbir Hayder, Sunzamul Islam, Subashis Roy, Taskin Ahmed
Rangpur Riders (Playing XI): Johnson Charles, Mohammad Mithun(w), Shahriar Nafees, Ravi Bopara, Samiullah Shenwari, Thisara Perera, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Ziaur Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Nazmul Islam, Lasith Malinga
Focus will be on
Mashrafe Mortaza (Rangpur)
Though Mortaza doesn’t really have the pace, he’s smart and mixes up things brilliantly. People saw a brilliant side of him in the first game and that’s exactly what the Rangpur fans want from their talismanic leader. He can be colossal with the bat on his day and without a shadow of a doubt, he is their most experienced and influential player.
Taskin Ahmed (Chittagong)
With a well-built physique and naturally gifted raw pace, Taskin Ahmed entered the elite level with a rocking performance against India. Though he’s been inconsistent at times, he’s still Bangladesh’s first choice bowler. He didn’t get off to a good start in the first game but the moment he finds his channel, he’ll be lethal.
Playing combinations
Rangpur Riders
Though Johnson Charles and Adam Lyth didn’t get off to a good start in the tournament, they’ll open the innings for the side. Mohammad Mithun will come in at number 3, with Nafees, Bopara, Thisara Perera and Mashrafe Mortaza to come in the middle and lower-middle order.
Mortaza, as mentioned above, will be the spearheading the attack and Rubel Hossain and Lasith Malinga will accompany him in the fast bowling department. Thisara Perera and Bopara will be the extra options for the skipper. Sohag Gazi and Nazmul Islam are the two spinners in the side.
Chittagong Vikings
Luke Ronchi and Soumya Sarkar provided a great opening stand, which wasn’t complimented well by the middle order. Dilshan Munaweera will come in at 3 whilst Misbah-ul-Haq, Luis Reece, Anamul Haque, and Sikandar Raza will be comprising the middle order.
With the batsmen failing so badly, there was nothing much the bowlers could do. They commenced their innings with two spinners in Sunzamul Islam and Shuvo. Taskin Ahmed and Subashis Roy will be the lone fast bowlers, with Sikandar Raza and Luis Reece being the extra options.
StatAttack
42 – After scoring 101 runs in 12 overs, Vikings only managed to score 42 runs in the next 8 overs in their previous game.
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