Malik's all-round performance helps Rajshahi beat Cumilla

An all-round performance from Shoaib Malik helped Rajshahi Royals beat Cumilla Warriors by 15 runs during their Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

A 30-ball 43 from Afif Hossain helped Rajshahi get off to a decent start after being asked to bat. It was however a 38-ball 61 from Shoaib Malik in the middle and another late unbeaten 21-ball 37-run cameo from skipper Andre Russell helped Rajshahi finish with a challenging 190 for four.

Chasing a challenging total posted by Rajshahi Royals, Cumilla Warriors could manage to score 175 for four in 20 overs despite an unbeaten 48-ball 88 from Soumya Sarkar.

Cumilla had lost two early wickets and were left reeling at 29 for two after 5.2 overs. Soumya played an inspiring unbeaten knock in the middle that was laced with five fours and six maximums but it was not enough to see Cumilla get over the line. Malik had shone with the ball too as he returned economical figures of one for 19 in three overs to help Rajshahi's cause.