BPL 2019, Match 13, Rangpur Riders vs Rajshahi Kings, Match Prediction: Who will win the match?

Although the business end is still some distance away, Rangpur will have to start sorting their problems out to pick some momentum before the big games come their way.

Published - 12 Jan 2019, 23:33 IST | Updated - 12 Jan 2019, 23:33 IST

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The defending champions Rangpur Riders are coming into this game after a flurry of hard-fought encounters and fortune definitely has not been on their side. Despite their shaky start, they find themselves second on the table with two wins in four games.

Their opponents on Sunday’s doubleheader will be Rajshahi Kings, who once again are struggling to cope with the other teams. The runners-up of the 2016 edition are a bit too reliant on the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar, which is not making skipper Mehidy Hasan’s job any easy.

Chris Gayle isn’t firing for the Riders as of yet and they too have some concerns heading into this game. Although the business end is still some distance away, Rangpur will have to start sorting their problems out to pick some momentum before the big games come their way.

Pitch

The afternoon games in Dhaka have been high scoring ones in the last three doubleheader days. This pattern might continue again and the Riders, in particular, have some outrageous strikers who can feast the fans with amazing strokeplay.

Playing Combinations

Rangpur Riders

Chris Gayle might get another game or two to prove himself and his opening partner once again will be Mehedi Maruf. Rilee Rossouw had a fabulous outing against Dhaka and will be accompanied by Bopara, Mohammad Mithun and Benny Howell in the middle order. Mashrafe Mortaza has been leading from the front with the white cherry and he will be assisted by the trio of Sohag Gazi, Nazmul Islam and Shafiul Islam.

Probable XI: Chris Gayle, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Farhad Reza, Ravi Bopara, Rilee Rossouw, Shafiul Islam, Benny Howell, Sohag Gazi, Mohammad Mithun (wk), Nazmul Islam, Mehedi Maruf

Rajshahi Kings

Mehidy Hasan will continue to open alongside Mominul Haque, with Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Hafeez to follow. Laurie Evans and Zakir Hasan are the finishing options in the middle order. Spinners taking the new ball is a common sight in Bangladesh and skipper Mehidy might do the same alongside Hafeez. Mustafizur Rahman will be their biggest threat alongside Udana and Arafat Sunny.

Probable XI: Mohammad Hafeez, Isuru Udana, Laurie Evans, Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Arafat Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman, Zakir Hasan (wk), Qais Ahmad, Mehidy Hasan (c), Fazle Mahmud