Openers click again for Rajshahi

Tamim Iqbal's aggressive fifty provided the platform for Duronto Rajshahi to chase down Rangpur Riders' competitive 163 in some style at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

A dominant 95-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Chris Coventry powered Duronto Rajshahi to a comfortable seven wicket win over the Rangpur Riders at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
With 24 required of the last three overs, the fourth wicket pair of Sean Ervine and Jahurul Islam took three boundaries off Fidel Edwards in the 18th over and smacked 14 off the next as they reached home with an over to spare.
The win took Rajshahi to the third spot in the table with eight points.
Chasing a target of 164, Rajshahi got off to a blazing start as their opening pair scored 95 runs in 11.3 overs. Both Tamim (50 of 36) and Coventry (47 of 35) flayed Rangpur's bowlers to the different corners of the park. The aggression began in the third over when Coventry dispatched Edwards over mid on and then witnessed Tamim smack a six over long-off in the last ball.
The aggression continued as the batsmen hurried to 51 for no loss in the first six overs. The opening partnership set the tone for Rajshahi as they required just 86 to win in the last 10 overs. Tamim reached his half-century in the 11th over with a delicate cut off Tapash Baisya for a boundary. He was caught at long-off in the next over while trying to play one shot too many.
Tamim's wicket startled Rajshahi a bit as the set Coventry was run out in the next over following a mix up with Dilshan Munaweera. Munaweera then shared in a 26-run stand with Jaharul Islam before being caught at mid-wicket by Cameron Borgas, in what was a superbly judged catch at the edge of the boundary rope. A calm-looking 38 off 18 by Jahurul Islam though ensured that there were no further hiccups for Rajshahi.
Earlier, Rangpur rode on Shamsur's stroke-filled 68, his highest score of the tournament, as he proved to be the mainstay of the batting lineup. Shamsur, along with Junaid Siddique, gave the Riders a blistering start to the game as the opening pair put on 60 runs from seven overs.
Characteristic of a player in form, Shamsur opened his account with a wristy flick of Ben and he regularly scooped the pacers while going down the wicket to the spinners.
His towering six over long-on against Dilshan Munaweera in the sixth over showed how well he was timing the ball. His best shot of the day though came in the 19th over when he guided a fuller length delivery off Sean Ervine past the short-third man for a boundary.
Junaid's 31 off 16 ably supported Shamsur, as he smacked five fours and a six, in what were his first runs of the competition. He was eventually held at long-on.
Boundaries from Danza Hyatt and Cameron Borgas towards the end of the innings helped Rangpur cross the 160-mark.

SCORES IN BRIEF
RANGPUR RIDERS: 163 for 3 in 20 overs (Shamsur 68, Junaed 31, Nasir 30, Borgas 22 not out; Munaweera 1-27, Monir 1-23)
DURONTO RAJSHAHI: 168 for 3 in 19 overs (Tamim 50, Coventry 47, Jamshed 38 not out, Ervine 14 not out; K O'Brien 1-17, Taposh 1-28)
Result: Duronto Rajshahi won by 7 wickets.
Player-of-the-match: Tamim Iqbal.