Drop catches cost Rajshahi

Rajshahi Kings skipper Darren Sammy will surely be spending more time in catching practise after drop catches cost his side the game against Rangpur Riders by six wickets in their BPL match at the Sylhet International stadium yesterday.

Both Ravi Bopara and Thisara Perera who remained unbeaten on 39 off 23 balls and 20 off 12 balls respectively for Rangpur were dropped by the Rajshahi fielders in the crucial moments of the game.

Luke Wright and Samit Patel were the main culprits for Rajshahi after dropping three catches.

Mohammad Mithun and Shahriar Nafees held the ship after Rangpur were struggling on 15 for 2 losing both openers Adam Lyth (0) and Johnson Charles (9) early.

The pair added 75 runs in the third wicket and more importantly they kept the required run rate well under control. Mithun however was dismissed scoring highest 46 off 33 balls as Rajshahi started to take control. Nafees also departed scoring 35 off 34 balls with three fours and two sixes, Rangpur required another 42 runs from 29 balls until drop catches eventually cost Rajshahi the game.

Earlier lethal Lasith Malinga made his BPL debut for Rangpur but not with much venom picking up two wickets for 34 runs from his four overs.

Rony Talukdar hit a team-highest 38-ball 47 before Rangpur skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who changed his jersey number from 2 to 0, bowled him as Rajshahi posted 155 for 4 in 20 overs.

Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam did some snake dance to entertain the huge crowd as he picked up the wickets of Wright and Mushfiqur Rahim.