Rangpur Riders stayed perfect in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as they demolished defending champions Fortune Barishal by eight wickets in the evening game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

It was the bowlers who set up the third win on the trot for Rangpur. The high-voltage match was turned into a one-sided affair as Pakistan spinner Khushdil Shah finished with 3-18 while his compatriot Iftikhar Ahmed and Bangladeshi pace sensation Nahid Rana took two wickets each to bowl Barishal out for 124 runs in 18.2 overs after opting to field.

Barishal skipper Tamim Iqbal top scored with 28 runs while Mohammad Nabi contributed 21 runs after coming to bat at number eight.

Rangpur, in reply, lost their opener Azizul Hakim Tamim (0) and Tawfique Khan (0) in the same over to Barishal pacer Iqbal Hasan Emon but an unbroken stand of 113 runs off 86 balls between Saif Hassan (62 not out) and Alex Hales (49 not out) sailed them to victory with five overs to spare.

With this win, Rangpur consolidated their top position with six points while Barishal suffered their first defeat after winning their tournament opener against Durbar Rajshahi by four wickets.

Meanwhile, there was an injury scare for both Barishal and Bangladesh as veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim had to leave the ground after injuring his hand while fielding.

Mushfiqur was escorted by team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan off the field in the second over of the Rangpur innings and he didn't appear on the field in the latter part of the match.

Barishal head coach Mizanur Rahman Babu, however, later relayed that Mushfiqur's injury is nothing serious and that the veteran would be available for their next game against Durbar Rajshahi in Sylhet on Monday.