BPL 2019-20: Match 29, Review- Ravi Bopara’s blitzkrieg blows away Rangpur Rangers

For the first time in the BPL 2019-20, Rajshahi Royals have found themselves on top of the points table. They beat the Rangpur Rangers by 30 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The Royals were coming off back-to-back losses and also didn’t have Andre Russell for the last match. For the Rangers, they need to win all their games in order to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Ravi Bopara takes charge for Royals

Afif Hossain took the Royals off to a flier. The left-hander scored a 17-ball 32 to set the tone for the innings. Mustafizur Rahman nipped out Liton Das to strike first blood. To Rajshahi’s dismay, Afif fell prey to Mohammad Nabi in the next over. Shoaib Malik (37) and Irfan Sukkur (20) put their heads down for a 31-run stand, though it came off 32 balls. Arafat Sunny separated the duo, getting Irfan.

Then Ravi Bopara joined his skipper in the middle and helped the Royals clinch back the ascendancy. The duo put on 47 runs off 20 balls and propelled Rajshahi to 179. Bopara churned out a 29-ball 50 with four boundaries and three hits into the stands. He was severe on Mustafizur and took him for 22 in the last over. Prior to that, Mustafizur had conceded 19 runs before Bopara laid into him.

Rangers slump to another loss

Shane Watson’s horror-run in the BPL continued. The opener strained for nine balls after which Mohammad Nawaz castled him. Cameron Delport found the boundary a few times, but gave his wicket away to Malik. At the other end, Mohammad Naim wasn’t going to die wondering. He hit an 18-ball 27. To his dismay, he played one shot too many and became Malik’s second victim.

A stand of 64 runs between Tom Abell (29) and Fazle Mahmud (34) kept the Rangers in the hunt. The duo kept the required rate around 10, but both perished in a space of three balls. From there on, it was pretty much one-way traffic towards the Royals, who restricted the Rangers to 149 in 20 overs. For Rajshahi, Mohammad Nawaz, skipper Malik and Kamrul Islam Rabbi picked up two wickets each.

Brief Scores

Rajshahi Royals: 179/4 in 20 overs (Ravi Bopara 50*, Shoaib Malik 37; Mustafizur Rahman 2/41)

Rangpur Rangers: 149/7 in 20 overs (Fazle Mahmud 34; Tom Abell 29; Mohammad Nawaz 2/21)

Rajshahi Royals win by 30 runs.