Rangpur Riders suffered their fourth successive loss in this season's BPL as Khulna Tigers' Mohammad Naim's ton trumped Soumya Sarkar's 74. Khulna's 46-run win today ensured that they remain in contention for a playoff spot while Rangpur's second position in the standings will now come under threat from Chittagong Kings who have 12 points and two games remaining and have a superior run-rate to Rangpur's.

Rangpur did not get off to the flying start they needed in chase of Khulna's 220 as Tawfique Khan and Saif Hassan fell early. Soumya showed composure and fluency to keep some hope alive while Iftikhar Ahmed (19 off 15) and Mahedi Hasan (27 off 14) helped move the scoring along.

But there was no real support for Soumya, who was also not allowed to cut loose in the death overs. Musfik Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with three for 24 in four overs while Hasan Mahmud shone with the ball in the death overs, castling Soumya in the final over of the innings.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Rakibul Hasan played cameo knocks but it was too little too late with the required-rate climbing over 22 with three overs remaining. Eventually, after Soumya's dismissal, Rangpur who are still on 16 points, were restricted to 174 for 9.

Earlier, Naim plundered an unbeaten 62-ball 111, his first ever BPL ton to help Khulna Tigers to 220 for four in the do-or-die match against Rangpur Riders at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Rangpur, who suffered three consecutive loss earlier, were in a spot of bother as the threat of losing second spot on the table looms large. They still had control of the game after Mehedi Hasan Miraz (21 off 12) and Alex Ross (12 off 14) departed with the score on 60 for 2.

Naim and Willam Bosisto (36 off 21) strung together an 88-run stand from 45 deliveries to put the pressure on Rangpur. Mohammad Saifuddin was guilty of several no-balls which highlighted Rangpur's indiscipline on the field. Saifuddin ended up conceding 55 off four over while the rest of the bowlers all remained heavily expensive.

Naim hit eight sixes and seven fours during his knock to push the score past 200 while Mahidul Islam Ankon also contributed with a 15-ball 29 before falling in the last over.