RAN VS FBA T20S

Right then, Rangpur Riders have just sealed their 9th win and a place in the Qualifier game of the tournament which means that there are still a couple of playoff spots up for grabs. Next up is another doubleheader lined up on Tuesday, 20th February. First up it will be a contest between Chattogram Challengers and Khulna Tigers beginning at 1 pm IST (7.30 am GMT). This will be followed by a clash between Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders at 6 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT). You can join us early for the build-up of both games. Cheers!

Nurul Hasan, the skipper of Rangpur Riders says it was a great game and is very nice for the crowds to witness a thriller like this one. He further adds that cricket is a team game and they have played well and have the momentum with them and will look to carry on that going ahead.

Abu Hider is the Player of the Match for his sensational bowling effort. He starts by thanking the almighty and also to his teammates who believed in him and he was able to deliver. Adds that the wicket was a bit difficult and he just tried to bowl hard length and hit the deck.

The Presentation ceremony...

Tamim Iqbal, the captain of Fortune Barishal says that he is happy with how the game panned out and adds that it doesnt hurt to lose a close game like this one. He further says that they were going very strong until 11th over and then they had a collapse which has not happened so far in this tournament and will not happen again. He praises Mehidy Hasan and says they showed character and pulled back the game deep which is good.

Fortune Barishal will be thinking about what could have been as they let the game slip on multiple occasions. First, with the bat they got a rollicking start and were 110/1 at one point with Kyle Mayers and Tom Banton set on the crease. However, once Banton got out, it triggered a huge collapse and only the two bowlers Mohammad Saifuddin and Obed McCoy were even able to get into double figures. With the ball in hand, Kyle Mayers had a good start and got the wicket of Mominul Haque as well but the opposition was able to get away the boundaries. They did manage to comeback by picking up wickets in the middle phase and had the opposition pegged back but a crucial dropped catch of James Neesham by the substitute fielder allowed him to score a few more runs and that proved to be vital. They now need to win their final match to have a chance of making it to the playoffs.

Rangpur Riders have been the top side in the competition this season and they have yet again proved their mettle. After a really poor start with the ball, they managed to pick up wickets in the second half of the first innings but it was the spell of Abu Hider that completely turned the game on its head. The left-arm pacer picked up a five-wicket haul and got the opposition bogged down and kept them to just 151 runs. With the bat, Mominul Haque fell early after which the pair of Brandon King and Shakib Al Hasan put on a show, hammering away boundaries for fun but soon the wickets started to fall. There were contributions in the middle order but everyone got starts and gave their wickets away. James Neesham almost took them home but he too fell and a fortunate outside edge from Hasan Mahmud gave them a memorable win.

One of the all-time great BPL matches and in the end, it is Rangpur Riders who get their revenge on Fortune Barishal and seal the top two finish in the table. Fortune Barishal on the other hand have now been put in a dogfight for a playoff place as a win here would have sealed a top-four finish. It was a match that was filled with batting lapses but Rangpur just bowled a bit better as they pulled things back a lot during the first innings and that made the difference.

FOUR! What a match and what a way to finish things off. Hasan Murad gets an outside edge and takes his side home. A fuller delivery on off, Hasan Mahmud plants his front foot ahead and looks to push at it but gets a thick outside edge towards the third man fence for a boundary.

Scores level! Bowls it fuller on off, Shamim Hossain pushes it through the gap at extra covers for a single.

Starts from over the wicket and angles it away from a length round off, Shamim Hossain opens the bat face and guides it to point.

What an over this has been. Just one run and a wicket off it. Bowls it nice and full into the stumps, Hasan Mahmud blocks it straight back to the bowler. Rangpur Riders now need 2 more runs while Fortune Barishal need 1 wicket to win.

Bangs it shorter in length and over off, Hasan Mahmud does well to keep it out.

Angles it in on a good length around off, Hasan Mahmud blocks it back to the bowler.

Bowls it fuller and outside off, Hasan Murad fllrts with it but gets beaten on the outside edge. The stadium is erupting.

Hasan Mahmud is the last man in for Rangpur Riders.

OUT! CAUGHT! Oh my my, we are in for a nail biting finish. Fancy a superover? Mayers bowls it fuller and outside off, Abu Hider goes for an unnecessary slice square on off and ends up looping it straight to the fielder at deep cover. Rakibul Hasan does not have to move an inch and takes a simple catch.