Babar, Azmat power Rangpur to win after shaky start

Pakistan recruit Babar Azam made an instant impact in his first match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), leading Rangpur Riders to a four-wicket win over Sylhet Strikers at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Babar played an unbeaten 49 ball-56 to anchor the innings in astute fashion as Rangpur recovered from 39-6 to overhaul Sylhet's paltry 120-8 in 18.2 overs.

He was ably supported by Afghanistan recruit Azmatullah Omarzai, who blasted 35 ball-47 with two fours and three sixes, the last one was winning six which took Rangpur 125-6.

No other batters, apart from the duo, could reach double digits. But the duo held the nerve and shared 86 runs for the undefeated seventh wicket to help Rangpur secure its first victory and also gave Sylhet its second straight defeat.

With small total, Sylhet fought neck to neck with Richard Ngarava dismissing Rony Talukdar for 6 to begin Rangpur's rot.

After getting first-ball duck in the first match, West Indies recruit Brandon King bagged five-ball duck this match to compound Rangpur's woe further.

They got further setback when Tanzim Hasan Sakib got rid of captain Nurul Hasan Sohan (8) before Dushan Hemantha, who took 3-20 scythed down the middle order to make Sylhet favourites to win the game but only to be denied by Omarzai and Babar.

Earlier put into bat first, Sylhet had an abysmal start with apart from opener Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 14, all of their first four batters departed with single digit figure, as they were slumped to 39-5.

Benny Howell and Ben Cutting saved them from ultimate blushes, combining for 68-run for the sixth wicket. Both of the batters made identical 37 runs.

Mahedi Hasan and Ripon Mondol grabbed two wickets apiece for Rangpur Riders.

Source: BSS