BPL 2019-20: Match 32, Review- Shane Watson finds form to keep Rangpur Rangers’ playoff hopes alive

Rangpur Rangers are well and truly in contention for a berth in the playoffs of the 2019-20 BPL. The Rangers rolled over a hapless looking Sylhet Thunder by 38 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Shane Watson and Co no have four victories and are level with the Cumilla Warriors. For the Thunder, it’s now confirmed that they will end the T20 tournament as the cellar dwellers.

Shane Watson finally shows his class

Shane Watson was having a horror run with the bat, having scored 15 runs in the first four matches. But he made amends, scoring 68 off 36 and helping the Rangers post a daunting target of 200 for the Thunder to chase down. To start with, he put on 77 for the opening wicket along with Mohammad Naim, who got a 33-ball 42. Watson notched his fifty off 31 balls and was looking pretty ominous.

Ebadot Hossain gave the Thunder a breather, cleaning up Watson. Cameron Delport (25) cleared the ropes a couple of times before falling prey to Ebadot. Mohammad Nabi also struck form with a timely 17-ball 23. For the Thunder, Krishmar Santokie bowled the last over and gave away as many as 26 runs. Fazle Mahmud’s quickfire 8-ball 16 helped the Rangers nearly touch the 200-run barrier.

Thunder slump to another defeat

The Thunder scored 27 runs in their first three overs to start their chase. Andre Fletcher (19) threw the kitchen sink at everything, but Taskin Ahmed got rid of him. Lewis Gregory castled Abdul Mazid to pick up Thunder’s next wicket. Mohammad Mithun (30) tried to up the ante and he became Nabi’s first victim. Sherfane Rutherford kept the momentum going, keeping his team in the hunt.

The southpaw got his maiden T20 fifty off 31 balls. But he was in with a challenging road ahead with the Rangers, needing 59 off the last five overs. At the other end, Shafiqullah, Sohag Gazi and Rony Talukdar perished in quick succession. Rutherford got himself run-out in the weirdest of manners after not landing his foot even after crossing the batting crease. It also ended the Thunder’s hopes.

Brief Scores

Rangpur Rangers: 199/5 in 20 overs (Shane Watson 68, Mohammad Naim 42; Ebadot Hossain 2/30)

Sylhet Thunder: 161/9 in 19.1 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 60, Mohammad Mithun 30; Mustafizur Rahman 2/18)

Rangpur Rangers win by 38 runs.