Rangers get a life-line beating Thunder

Rangpur Rangers picked up their second win in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) after thumping Sylhet Thunder by seven wickets with 16 balls to spare at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, reports UNB.

This win came as a life-line for the Rangers who lost five of their first six matches. Thunder, on the other hand are more or less out of contention for the knock-out phase as they suffered their seventh loss in eight games today.

Replying to Thunder’s meager total of 133, Rangers finished the game on 134 for three in 17.2 overs riding on South African batsman Cameron Delport’s 63 off 28 balls. His whirlwind knock contained six fours and five sixes.

Mohammad Naim remained unbeaten after scoring 38 from 50 balls along with Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi who made 18 runs from 12 balls.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq bagged two wickets conceding 13 runs in four overs while Ebadot Hossain took the other wicket to fall in Rangers’ innings.

Earlier, Thunder suffered a torrid start to their innings after they were sent in to bat first by Rangers losing both the openers with only 16 runs on the board. West Indian opener Andre Fletcher went back for a two-ball duck while his compatriot Johnson Charles made 9 from 11 balls.

The third wicket stand between Mohammad Mithun and Thunder captain Moasaddek Hossain added 57 runs to repair the early damage.

Mosaddek was dismissed by Lewis Gregory for 15 of 23 balls while Mithun was the highest run-getter for his team with 62 runs from 47 balls with four fours and two sixes to his name. The remaining batsmen failed to get things going and as a result Thunder limped to 133 for 9 in 20 overs.

Bangladesh left-arm bowler Mustafizur Rahman had a good outing with the ball as he picked up three wickets conceding only 10 runs in four overs. He was adjudged the man of the match for his efforts.

Arafat Sunny, Mukidul Islam, Mohammad Nabi and Gregory took one wicket each.

Rangers will take on Rajshahi Royals on December 31 while Thunder will face off against Cumilla Warriors on January 2 at Sylhet International Stadium.