Rajshahi batted superbly in the first innings as they posted 198/5 and bowled accordingly to restrict the Vikings for 181/8 in 20 overs to win the game by seven runs.
In the last over which was bowled by Mustafizur Rahman, the Vikings needed 13 runs to win the game, but they ended up with only five by losing two wickets. Mustafizur trapped Sikandar Raza in the first ball and Raza lost his stumps after missing the delivery.
The left-arm pacer took another wicket in the fifth ball of the last over after conceding four runs in the second, third and fourth ball, and in the last ball, he gave another run. The Vikings lost the match by seven runs.
Vikings managed a rampant start while chasing the competitive total of 198 runs as Mohammad Shahzad struck 22 in the very first over which was bowled by Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
Shahzad fell for 49 off 22 balls with three fours and five sixes to his credit. After Shahzad’s dismissal, Yasir Ali was the man to steer the innings of the Vikings. He scored 58 off 38 balls with seven fours and two sixes, but failed to finish the game.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain of the Vikings, also had a good start but disappointed while playing a scope. He fell for 22 off 20 balls. Besides Shahzad, Yasir and Msufiqur, Sikandar Raza was the man to offer some interruption for the Kings bowler before being dismissed by Mustafizur. The Zimbabwean recruit of the Vikings fell for 29 off 15 balls.
Mustafizur took three wickets for the Vikings while Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, Chittagong Vikings failed to impress with their bowling department once again conceding 198 runs in 20 overs.
Johnson Charles struck a half-century. Kings had an imperious start with Charles and Soumya Sarkar adding 50 runs in the opening stand.
Charles, who is playing his first match in BPL this season, hit 55 off 43 balls with five fours and two sixes after. Soumya was dismissed by Khaled Ahmed after scoring 26 off 20 balls with five fours.
Charles teamed up with Laurie Evans to add 70 runs to the board. Evans was dismissed by Khaled after adding 36 off 26 balls with four fours.
Charles kept the Kings’ innings afloat before missing a full toss from Abu Jayed. He went for a big shot but missed the ball that hit his right leg and he was out LBW.
Before the dismissal, Rajshahi added 28 runs in the third wicket stand.
During the last four overs, Kings scored 55 runs and lost three wickets. Christiaan Jonker added 37 off 17 balls with one four and three sixes.
For Vikings, Khaled bagged two wickets while Jayed and Robiul Haque took one wicket each.
Rajshahi will play their next game against Rangpur Riders on 29 January and the Vikings will face Comilla Victorians on the same day.