Sylhet is hosting the BPL matches for the 3rd time after 2017 and 2018.

After the match, both the Rajshahi Royals and Chattogram Challengers have secured league highest 12 points each from nine matches with six wins and three defeats. But the Royals dominated the league by virtue of better run rate (0.286) against the Challengers (0.087).

Sent to bat first in the day’s match, Rajshahi Royals piled up a moderate 179 runs for 4 in stipulated overs with all the six batsmen reaching the double figure.  

Opener Liton Das pairing with Afif Hossain scored 51 runs in the opening stand and later skipper cum one down Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik partnering with English batsman Ravi Bopora  contributed 48 runs in the 4th wicket stand.

The right handed middle order batsman hammered an unconquered 29-ball 50 runs featuring four fours and three sixes and was adjudged man of the match, former Pakistani captain Shoaib Malik scored 31-ball 37 runs hitting four boundaries, opener Afif Hossain made 17-ball 32 runs with two fours and three sixes and Liton Das scored 15-ball 19 runs with three boundaries.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman grabbed two wickets for 41 runs while Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi and Arafat Sunny took one wicket each conceding 26 and 45 runs respectively.

Chasing a target of 180 runs, Rangpur Rangers were forced to close their innings at 149 runs for 7 in quota 20 overs featuring 64 runs in the 4th wicket partnership by Fazle Mahmud and TB Abell.

Number five batsman Fazle Mahmud contributed the team highest 34 runs off 26 balls hitting three fours and two sixes.

Besides, TB Abell (29), Mohammad Naim (27), Al Amin (18) and CS Delport (14) were the other notable scorers for the Rangers.

Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik and Kamrul Islam Rabbi claimed two wickets each giving away 21, 27 and 32 runs respectively.