BPL 2019-20: Match 13, Review- Rilee Rossouw, Shafiul Islam and bowlers detonate Rangpur Rangers

Rangpur Rangers’ misery in the Bangabandhu BPL doesn’t seem to end. Mohammad Nabi and Co have now lost four matches on the trot and are languishing at the bottom of the points table. Khulna Tigers remained unbeaten after garnering a victory by eight wickets. Meanwhile, a net run rate of -2.447 isn’t going to make things any easier for the Rangers in their last six round-robin matches.

Naim and Mahmud fight hard

Bearing in mind the recent records in Chattogram, the Tigers didn’t have any hesitation to field first. Mohammad Shahzad and Mohammad Naim (49) started well, scoring 2o off the first two overs. But once Mohammad Amir got rid of Shahzad, the Tigers didn’t look back. Cameron Delport and Nadif Chowdhury perished cheaply. Naim carried on with his good form and held one end up efficiently.

The opener got out to a run-out after hitting five fours and a couple of sixes. Fazle Mahmud (42) injected some momentum into the innings with two fours and as many sixes. Lewis Gregory added 22 runs, but it could only take the Rangers to an under-par score of 137/9. For the Tigers, Shafiul Islam was the standout bowler with three wickets. Amir and Shahidul Islam got two wickets each.

Rossouw blasts away the Rangers

The run-chase wasn’t expected to pose much of a threat to the in-form Tigers’ batting lineup. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s poor run of form continued as he succumbed to his third single-digit score in a row. Mustafizur Rahman picked up the southpaw in the third over. Thereafter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (37) and Rilee Rossouw (66*) made sure that the Rangers didn’t get a foothold back into the encounter.

Mukidul Islam broke the stand that fetched 61 runs off a mere 26 deliveries. Rossouw went on to rack up his half-century off 23 balls and saw his team over the line. Mushfiqur Rahim, the skipper, stayed not out with an unbeaten 17 with a couple of fours. Eventually, the Tigers chased the target down with 45 balls to spare and continued with their sheer dominance in the T20 league.

Brief Scores

Rangpur Rangers: – 137/9 in 20 overs (Mohammad Naim 49, Fazle Mahmud 42; Shafiul Islam 3/21)

Khulna Tigers: – 138/2 in 12.3 overs (Rilee Rossouw 66*, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 37; Mustafizur Rahman 1/18)

Khulna Tigers win by eight wickets