Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20
Chittagong Vikings: 176/7 (van Zyl 68, Nahidul 1-4)
Rangpur Riders: 180/7 (Mithun 44, Mashrafe 42, Reece 1-13)
Thisara Perera cracked Taskin Ahmed deep into the mid-wicket attitudes off the last ball to lift Rangpur Riders to a three-wicket win against Chittagong Vikings. The holiday crowd enjoyed a breathtaking contest that see-sawed several times before leaving Rangpur needing three off the last ball.
The final over outset with Rangpur still 14 short of the win. After taking two off the first ball, Perera smacked Taskin for a six off the second before Nahidul Islam was run out off the next ball. Shahriar Nafees fell to a catch at long-on off the following distribution before Perera hurried back for a second run. As Perera shaped to scoop the final ball, Taskin delivered a wide which narrowed it down to three off the last ball. Then off the last ball, Perera distributive the knockout blow.
Stiaan van Zyl earlier top scored for Chittagong with his 68 off 40 balls to help the home side to 176 for 7 in 20 overs. But their innings didn't start on the right note.
Alike 2015 BPL season, Mashrafe promoted himself to No. 3 to provide his side with some batting balance. It was necessary too, since the Chris Gayle-Brendon McCullum show didn't take off. McCullum particularly struggled in his 20-ball stay of 15 before Al Amin castled him in the sixth over.
Chris Gayle, who had hit two sixes already, saw Mashrafe take charge by hitting three sixes and four boundaries. They added 60 runs for the second wicket, with Mashrafe getting his sixes over midwicket and the straight boundary. He was undone by Sunzamul in the 10th over, but his 17-ball 42 put a dent in Chittagong's confidence.
Man of the Match is Mashrafe Mortaza
