Fizz special halts Rangpur

Even without taking a wicket, Rajshahi Kings pacer Mustafizur Rahman was the hero as his brilliant last over, that allowed just three runs when Rangpur Riders needed nine, sealed a thrilling five-run win over in the Bangladesh Premier League encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Needing 10 runs off the last over, the Fizz bowled four consecutive dot balls to Forhad Reza and Rilee Rossouw, on 43 at the other end, only managed to get strike in the last ball through a bye.

But the left-hander could not take the game to a Super Over and only managed to take a single off a fuller Mustafizur delivery as Rajshahi clinched their second win in four games.

Defending the small total of 135 for eight, it was Mustafizur who, despite being wicket-less conceded just 17 runs from his four overs, changed the scenario for Rajshahi.

The left-arm seamer came on to bowl his last two overs with Rangpur needing 21 runs off the last three overs. Mustafizur conceded just four runs in the 18th over, before Sri Lanka left-arm seamer Isuru Udana conceded eight runs in the 19th to take the game down to the wire.

Despite remaining on top of the game while chasing the modest target, Rangpur lost their way at the end and ended up on 130 for six in 20 overs. It was Rangpur's third defeat in five games and the defending champions will surely be looking for a comeback as the tournament shifts to Sylhet from January 15.

Rangpur however came up with a surprise when skipper Masharfe Bin Mortaza opened the innings with Chris Gayle. However, the strategy did not work as Mashrafe edged a brilliant delivery from Kamrul Islam Rabbi for a second-ball duck in the first over.

In the day's second game, Mushfiqur Rahim's 41-ball 75 took Chittagong Vikings over the line by four wickets in their clash against the Comilla Victorians.

The right-hander smashed seven boundaries and four sixes and almost single-handedly willed Chittagong to a win. Mohammad Shehzad was the only other notable scorer for Chittagong, with a 27-ball 46, in chase of a 185-run target.

Earlier, it was Thisara Perera who stole the show with his dynamic 26-ball 74. The Sri Lankan was in rampant form, hitting eight sixes and three boundaries. He saved his best for last however, when he hit Frylinck for four sixes and a boundary in the penultimate over to provide a huge boost.

Unfortunately, Comilla's bowlers could not do the job in the end and do Perera's magnificent innings justice.