"No more cricketing questions? Surely boys, there's like 17 of you in here," Durbar Rajshahi all-rounder Ryan Burl quipped at a post-match press conference in Chattogram yesterday after navigating through a barrage of questions about player payments.

Burl played a match-winning hand with the ball, with figures of 4-22, as Rajshahi managed to put a stop to Rangpur Riders' juggernaut-like run with a 24-run win at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. However, the 30-year-old Zimbabwean was mostly asked about whether he alongside the rest of the Rajshahi squad had received their payments -- a major discrepancy that had headlined the Chattogram phase of the tournament, eclipsing almost every on-field display.

Non-payment of players -- a very common problem throughout the history of the tournament -- doubled up on the intense rumours of spot-fixing, prevalent throughout the ongoing edition, and combined with the widespread scrutiny behind the disregard for having standard-sized boundaries.

At the end of the day, it was a significant win for the Taskin Ahmed-led side, who had boycotted a practice session in Chattogram over payment issues; adding insult to injury following a string of losses. It put an end to Rangpur's eight-match winning streak and steered Rajshahi towards a top-four finish.

Burl expressed his delight at seeing his side emerge superior in a "do-or-die scenario". "It's a really happy feeling to be winning. It probably means much more to win against the number one team in the tournament so far.

"Especially for us as we are in a bit of a do-or-die scenario where we need to win games to try and get to the qualifiers," he said. 

Having posted 170 for nine, Rajshahi managed to bundle out Rangpur for 146. Yasir Ali's 31-ball 60, laced with two fours and six sixes, laid the groundwork for the win for Rajshahi who, at one stage, were eyeing the 200-run mark.

Sabbir Hossain's 19-ball 39 at the top of the order gave Rajshahi impetus before Yasir took command of the innings. But a flurry of wickets in the middle saw them lose steam.

Taskin and SM Meherob provided early breakthroughs for Rajshahi as Rangur slumped to three for 15 in the fourth over. Saif Hassan and Khushdil Shah patched together a 40-run stand but after the former got dismissed for a 29-ball 43, Rangpur lost the plot.

A 26-ball 41 from skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan raised hopes but Burl, on his return from an injury, spun the Rangpur batters to a dizzy. Meanwhile, Taskin -- this edition's highest wicket-taker so far -- finished with two four 20, extending his tally to 22 scalps.