Rangpur knock Shakib’s Barishal out 

Rangpur Riders staged a riveting chase to knock out Fortune Barishal from the Bangladesh Premier League, beating the Shakib Al Hasan-led side by four wickets in the Eliminator to book their place in the second Qualifier at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing Barishal's 170 for three, Rangpur's Shamim Hossain starred with a 51-ball 71 that featured four boundaries and four maximums.

Impactful cameos from Dasun Shanaka (15) and Sheikh Mahedi (18) ensured Rangpur cross the finish line with three deliveries remaining.

After being put into bat first, Barishal, who slotted in Andre Fletcher and Bhanuka Rajapaksa into the line-up, promoted Mehedi Hasan Miraz to open the innings, a decision that paid dividends.

The right-handed batter hit nine fours and a six, top-scoring with a 48-ball 69 before falling to Dasun Shanaka.

Fletcher flopped with 16-ball 12 but Mahmudullah and Karim Janat scored a 34 and 33 respectively, and Rajapaksa hit a 10-ball 17 to take Barishal to 170 for three.

In reply, Mohammad Naim's batting woes at the top continued as the opener chewed up four balls before falling to Shakib in the very first over of the innings.

But Rony Talukdar and Shamim put together a 61-run stand to set the tone for a chase before he succumbed to Barishal pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi for a 17-ball 29.

Rangpur skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan went back for a 13-ball 18 after being trapped lbw by Shakib but Shamim at the other end managed to motor on keeping the scoreboard ticking.

But Khaled Ahmed dismissed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for five and an over later came back to send Shamim packing to heavy the balance in Barishal's favour. 

The experience of Shanaka, who scored a 12-ball 15 and  the improvisation of Mahedi, who smashed four fours for his nine-ball 18 ensured Rangpur's victory.