Rangpur keep BPL final hopes alive, eliminating Barishal

Shamim Patwari smashed a brilliant 51 ball-71 as Rangpur Riders kept the hopes of moving to the final of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), recording a four-wicket win over Fortune Barishal in the eliminator game today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Rangpur now will take on the looser of the first Qualifier between Sylhet Strikers and Comilla Victorians.

Shakib Al Hasan-led Fortune Barishal, which were consistent side for most part of the tournament however were eliminated from the race of final straightway.

Thanks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who opened the innings, Barishal posted a challenging 170-3 but on a day when Shamim played an extraordinary innings, it mattered little, as Rangpur raced to the victory with three balls to spare, making 172-6.

But the start was stark contrast to how they finished the game. Rangpur lost Naim Sheikh in the first over after he got a first-ball-duck, being dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan.

The move to send Shamim at one down position proved to be masterstroke as he came down heavily against Barishal bowlers to keep the asking run rate under control. Alongside him, Rony Talukdar played another superb knock, hitting 29 off 17, studded with two fours and two sixes.

The duo combined for a 61-run off just 39 balls to keep the side in the hunt. Pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi broke the partnership, removing Rony and then Shakib gave another blow, getting rid of Rangpur skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan for 18.

Khaled Ahmed also got into act, with the wicket of Nicholas Pooran but Shamim was unfazed. He kept hitting all the things coming to his way and took the side close to the victory before he was dismissed by Khaled. He smote four sixes and as many fours in his knock.

After his dismissal, Dasun Shanaka (15) and Mahedi Hasan (18) sealed the deal with the latter bringing up the victory with consecutive boundaries.

Shakib, Khaled and Kamrul Rabbi claimed two wickets each but couldn’t save the side from the defeat.

After being asked to bat first, Barishal made a fluent start, with Mehidy looking in sublime touch. He hit nine fours and one six for his 69 and shared 46-run with Andre Fletcher for the opening stand. Fletcher made 12.

Mehidy also added 69-run with Mahmudullah Riyad for the second wicket stand to keep the side going. Dasun Shanaka who ended with 2-23, broke the partnership, removing Mahmudullah for 34.

In his immediate next over, Shanaka blew Barishal further, getting rid of Mehidy who was prepared to unleash ultimate punch. Mehidy’s dismissal at that moment particularly dented Barishal’s hope to propel the team closer to 200 runs mark.

However Karim Janat with 33 not out and Bhanuka Rajapaksa with 17 not out helped the side post a challenging total, which proved insufficient at the end.