Spinners Nasum Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz dominated proceedings as Khulna Tigers put on a fine bowling performance to dispatch Rangpur Riders by nine wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday. 

The loss in the first eliminator sees Rangpur exit the tournament on the back of five straight defeats.

Rangpur had big-name signings such as Andre Russell, Tim David and James Vince coming in today to join the side for the crucial eliminator game. Yet, they were bamboozled by Khulna spin battery.

Nasum started weaving his magic early before Miraz joined in while the other spinner, Mohammad Nawaz, also chipped in with the important wicket of Russell as Rangpur were bowled out for just 85.

Akif Javed accounted for the wicket of Khulna skipper Miraz in the third delivery of the innings but Rangpur spinners did not have the same effect as their Khulna counterparts as in-form Mohammad Naim took advantage in the Powerplay. Khulna picked up 51 runs in the first six overs as Naim punished the loose deliveries to make the chase an effortless one.

Rangpur Riders' West Indian batter Andre Russell loses his wicket. Photo: Star

Naim hit Rakibul Hasan for a six to notch the winning runs, ending the match on an unbeaten 33-ball 48. Alex Ross remained unbeaten on 29 at the other end as Khulna won with 9.4 overs to spare.

The rot started early for Rangpur when Soumya Sarkar departed to a run-out without facing a delivery after a mix-up with James Vince in just the second delivery of the innings. Vince himself then failed to judge the pace of a Nasum delivery and lofted it back towards the bowler, who dove to his right to complete a fine catch.

Mahedi Hasan was promoted up the order but he, too, failed to come up with a ploy against the left-arm spinners as he fell for one, trying to cut away a Nasum delivery which did not bounce as expected.

Saif Hassan fell next, finding the fielder that was placed for him at deep mid-wicket as Miraz took his first scalp. When Hasan Mahmud zipped one out and rapped Mohammad Saifuddin's pads to get him leg-before, the alarm bells were ringing with Rangpur five down for 15 runs.

The trio of spinners then accounted for the next three wickets of David, Russell and Rakibul Hasan as Rangpur slumped to 51 for nine. Akif showed capability with late blows, heaving two sixes during an 18-ball 32 to see Rangpur reach 85 before the right-hander was scalped by Mushfik Hasan.