Rangpur Riders continued their surge by topping the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) point table after thrashing Chattogram Royals by five wickets in a crucial game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday night.
The two teams started the match with same six points, however, the victory gave Rangpur the solo lead, taking them two points clear off the Chattogram.
Asked to bat first, Chattogram managed to put up 169-5, a total Rangpur gunned down in just 18.5 overs, reaching 170-5.
Kyle Mayers was instrumental in the facile victory, smashing a marauding 25 ball-50 that included five fours and four sixes.
After his dismissal, Rangpur lost some wickets in quick succession but the victory was never in doubt. Dawid Malan and Mahmudullah Riyad were the two other notable scorers, adding 30 runs each.
Earlier, opener Adam Rossington, the England recruit of Chattogram, struck his third straight half-century in the ongoing BPL to steer his side to a respectable total.
Rossington, who made 60 not out and 73 not out in the previous two matches, followed those with 41 ball-58 this time to play a pivotal role in helping Chattogram post a challenging total.
His fellow opener Naim Sheikh who also hit half-centuries in previous two matches, couldn't replicate the performance like Rossington after being out for 16.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy continued to fail to come up with the terms before Rossington found ably support in Pakistan recruit Hasan Nawaz.
Together they added 82-run for the third wicket to keep Chattogram's nose ahead.
Rakibul Hasan broke through with the wicket of Rossington who smashed six fours and two sixes in his knock.
Mustafizur Rahman then gave Rangpur a timely breakthrough by taking the wicket of Nawaz, who as a set batter, prepared for final assault as the last power play began.
Nawaz eventually was dismissed for 46 off 38 after hitting two fours and three sixes.
Nonetheless, Mahedi Hasan (13 not out) and Aamer Jamal (19 not out) finished off it well by taking 27 runs in the last two overs from Mustafizur and Akif Javed who grabbed 2-29. "BSS
