Rangpur edge past Khulna in low-scoring thriller

The opening day of the Chattogram phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) produced contrasting types of games as the days' first fixture witnessed a high-scoring encounter while the night game ended up as a low-scoring drama between Khulna Tigers and Rangpur Riders.

Chasing a modest target of 131 runs posted by Khulna, the game swung like a pendulum till the penultimate over before Rangpur eventually pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win in 19.2 overs. 

Rangpur kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Pakistan's experienced Shoaib Malik played a crucial 44-run knock off 36 balls, striking two sixes and three fours, before being dismissed by Mohammad Saifuddin in the 19th over, from where Rangpur still required seven runs in the final over. 

Azmatullah Omarzai then struck a six off the first ball to wrap up the game for Rangpur. Shamim Hossain remained not out on 16 off 10 balls and also helped the Riders to clinch their second win in three matches. On the other hand, Khulna are struggling at the bottom of the points table with three consecutive defeats. 

Khulna, however, did well picking up early wickets as Rangpur were struggling early in the chase and were 31 for three inside five overs. Pakistan's left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz picked up two wickets upfront and raised the hope for the bowling side. 

Earlier, Khulna's top-order once again failed to provide a solid start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Tamim Iqbal was dismissed after scoring just one run off the bowling of Azmatullah Omarzai up front. 

Pakistan's Azam Khan, centurion of the previous game, was the top-scorer with 37 runs for Khulna, who were reeling on 80 for six inside 13 overs after being sent in to bat. Skipper Yasir Ali added 25 while Mohammad Saifuddin's 18-ball 22 aided Khulna to post 130 before being bundled out in 19.4 overs.

Robiul Haque registered his best bowling figure in T20 format as the right-arm seamer bagged four for 22 from his four overs to remain Rangpur's best bowler of the match while Omarzai, Hasan Mahmud and Rakibul Hasan each scalped a couple wickets for Rangpur.