27th Match, Bangladesh Premier League at Dhaka, Jan 23
Chittagong Vikings: 159/4 (Mushfiqur 64*, Mosaddek 43*, Arafat 3-22)
Rajshahi Kings: 157/5 (Evans 74, Jonker 36*, Khaled 2-30)
Result: Chittagong Vikings won by six wickets
Player of the Match: Mushfiqur Rahim (Chittagong Vikings)
Chittagong Vikings continued their brilliant run in the sixth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as skipper Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten fifty guided the side to a six-wicket win over Rajshahi Kings at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday (Jan 23).
With six wins in seven games Chittagong now stand at the top of the points table while Rajshahi, with four wins in eight games, sit in fifth position.
Rajshahi posted 157 for five riding on in-form Laurie Evans's 56-ball 74.
Chris Jonker scored a quick 36 as they added 71 runs in the last five overs. In reply, Chittagong were struggling on 30 for three but Mushfiqur and Najibullah Zadran added 41 runs for the fourth wicket to start the rebuilding process.
Najibullah was dismissed for 23, but Mushfiqur remained firm at the other end and reached his fifty off 39 balls and crucially, added an unbeaten 88-run fifth-wicket stand with Mosaddek Hossain that took them across the finish line.
Player-of-the-match Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 64 off 46 balls, which was studded with two sixes and six fours, while Mosaddek was not out on 43 off 26 balls with four fours and two sixes.
In the day's second match, Khulna Titans got their second win of the tournament by beating Sylhet Sixers by 21 runs.
Chasing 171 to win, Sylhet were in a spot of bother on 56 for four before Nicholas Pooran and Mohammad Nawaz added 81 runs for the fifth wicket to bring the side back into the game.
Pooran, however, was dismissed on 28 off 21 balls but Nawaz kept hopes alive for Sylhet as he brought up his fifty off 32 balls. But the left-hander was eventually dismissed for 54 and since his departure Sylhet eventually ended the chase on 149 for seven after 20 overs -- their sixth defeat in eight games. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam picked up three wickets for Khulna.
Earlier, Khulna made a flying start with openers Brendon Taylor and Junaid Siddique adding 73 runs for the opening wicket. Junaid was dismissed for 33 off 23 balls while Taylor top-scored with 48 off 31 balls.
Since their departures, Khulna lost their way in the middle and it was David Wiese's 25-ball 38 at the end that helped the side post a challenging total of 170 for nine.
Leg-spinner Alok Kapali picked up four wickets while Mohammad Nawaz and Taskin Ahemd took two scalps each for Sylhet.
