Hexa Mission Fulfilled: Rangpur Riders Triumph in Thrilling Finish Against Fortune Barishal

Rangpur Riders have successfully achieved their Hexa Mission in the BPL, marking a significant victory in a high-stakes match against the defending champions Fortune Barishal. In a match that saw immense pressure, Rangpur chased down a target of 198, winning by 3 wickets, thanks to an explosive final over by captain Nurul Hasan Sohan.

Barishal, batting first, posted a challenging total of 197 runs, and Rangpur, despite an early setback, managed to recover and claim victory in a nail-biting finish.

Match Overview:

Barishal, with a target of nearly 200 runs, began with a solid partnership between Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto. The two gave their team a strong start, scoring 81 runs in the first 10 overs. Shanto, playing an aggressive knock, scored 41 runs off 30 balls, hitting 5 fours and a six before he was dismissed. Kamal Islam Rabbi made a breakthrough, dismissing Shanto and then sending Tamim Iqbal (40 off 32 balls) back to the pavilion as well.

Towhid Hridoy contributed 23 runs, and Mahmudullah Riyad was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs. However, Kyle Mayers and Fahim Ashraf took Barishal to a strong total. Mayers, finishing unbeaten on 61 off 27 balls, brought up a rapid fifty and added crucial runs in the final overs. Fahim Ashraf also contributed with a cameo of 20 runs off just 6 balls. This took Barishal to a final total of 197/7 in 20 overs.

Rangpur's Chase:

In reply, Rangpur Riders faced an early setback when their in-form opener Alex Hales was dismissed for just 1 run. However, Iftekhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah steadied the ship, providing some hope for Rangpur. They looked to counterattack, but the required rate was constantly rising.

Rangpur's run rate was slow, and by the end of the powerplay, they had only managed 34 runs. However, a significant breakthrough for Barishal came when Fahim Ashraf dismissed Saif Hasan, who had scored 22 runs, in the very next over.

Substitute for Azizul Hakim Tamim, Towhid Khan Tushar gave Rangpur a much-needed push, scoring 38 runs off 28 balls, including 3 fours and a six. But Rangpur lost wickets at regular intervals. Iftekhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah also struggled, and despite their efforts, Rangpur found themselves in deep trouble.

It was then that Nurul Hasan Sohan took charge. His powerful batting in the final over steered the team to victory, bringing Rangpur to 198 with one ball remaining.

Rangpur's thrilling chase ended with a 3-wicket victory, securing their 6th consecutive win and further cementing their position at the top of the table in the tournament.