Eliminator, Mirpur, February 12, 2023, 01:00 PM
Fortune Barishal
170/3(20.0ov)
Rangpur Riders
172/6(19.3ov)
Rangpur Riders beat Fortune Barishal by 4 wickets
Right then, a victory for Rangpur Riders and Fortune Barishal have been shown the exit door! It was an entertaining game and we are hoping for more of the same from the clash between Sylhet Strikers and Comilla Victorians in Qualifier 1. The match will get underway in a short while, at 6 pm IST (12.30 pm GMT), and you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!
Nurul Hasan, the captain of Rangpur Riders, says that his boys played really well. Adds that they performed as a team and that's a good sign. Mentions that they believed in themselves and he shares that the wicket was a good one. He is hoping for the best in the coming games.
Shamim Hossain (71 off 51 balls) is chosen for the Player of the Match award. Says that he is happy with the belief shown in him. Adds he is excited to get the support from the fans and he is hungry for more runs.
Shakib Al Hasan, the skipper of Fortune Barishal, says that the position they were in after 14-15 overs, they should have gotten 180-190. Adds that they could not bat the way they were batting in the last 5 overs and that cost them the match. Feels that they fought well with the ball but it was always going to be tough to defend 170 on a good wicket against the batting Rangpur Riders have. Ends by saying that they expected more this season but it wasn't to be.
Presentation time...
Earlier, the way Fortune Barishal approached their innings with the bat, a total close to 190 appeared to be on the cards. But the final flourish at the backend didn't come. They did score 44 runs in the final 5 overs but with plenty of wickets in hand, they could have attacked more. In a way, that cost them the game and a chance to go further in the tournament.
The bowling from Fortune Barishal was decent but only in patches. Shakib Al Hasan was excellent as always but the other bowlers were not too effective. Kamrul Islam and Khaled Ahmed did show their quality to take it close but to be honest, Fortune Barishal were always 15-20 runs short.
The chase started with a wicket maiden from Shakib Al Hasan, but soon Rony Talukdar and Shamim Hossain found their range and hammered 55 runs in the Powerplay. The foundation was laid, and once Rony got out in the 8th over, the equation was very much gettable. Shamim Hossain showed great maturity to take things under control and formed a few crucial stands. He departed in the 17th over with Rangpur needing 31 off 20 balls. Things got close but Mahedi Hasan and Dasun Shanaka made sure that Rangpur Riders cross the finish line.
What a match! What a finish! The gloves were off, punches exchanged and eventually, it was Rangpur Riders who delivered the knockout blow! Despair and disappointment in the camp of Fortune Barishal. The Riders have outclassed them in a close encounter.
In over# 20
4
4
1
Kamrul Islam 33/2(3.3)
19.3
4
FOUR! THAT'S IT! Rangpur Riders win by 4 wickets! Kamrul Islam bowls it back of a length at the batter, Mahedi Hasan goes for a mighty heave across the line but gets an outside edge that flies wide of third man for a boundary. Mahedi Hasan gets Rangpur Riders over the line in the final over.
19.2
4
FOUR! That should do it for Rangpur Riders! Kamrul Islam bowls a cutter, full around off, Mahedi Hasan premeditates and brings out the scoop. Gets it over short fine leg for a boundary. Just 3 needed now.
19.1
1
Starts with a low full toss at the stumps, Dasun Shanaka drills it down to long on for a single.
Kamrul Islam to bowl. He has the chance to headline tomorrow's newspapers by bowling a magical over. 8 needed off 6 balls.
In over# 19
1
1
0
5nb
0
4
0
Khaled Ahmed 24/2(4)
18.6
1
Shortish delivery outside off, Dasun Shanaka cuts it hard towards deep cover for a single. Rangpur Riders need 8 off the last over.
18.5
1
On a length outside off, Mahedi Hasan moves to the off side to ramp it over short fine leg. Gets an inside edge back onto his pads and the batters scamper for a single as the ball rolls on the off side. Khaled Ahmed gets to the ball quickly and fires a throw at the non-striker's end but does not hit.
18.4
.
Shortens his length and bowls it near the tramline on the off side, Mahedi Hasan moves across to swing it on the leg side but fails to connect.
18.4
5nb
NO BALL! FOUR! Khaled Ahmed misses his length and bowls an above-waist full toss around off, Mahedi Hasan opens the bat-face and guides it behind square on the off side. Gets it to the left of backward point for a boundary. Free Hit will follow now.