CHATTOGRAM, Jan 20, 2025 (BSS)- Chittagong Kings came up with a ruthless cricket to whack Durbar Rajshahi past by 111 runs for their fifth victory in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here today.

A well-composed half-century from makeshift opener Naeem Islam lifted Chittagong Kings to a respectable 191-8. Naeem and Shoriful Islam then claimed two wickets apiece in a measly bowling effort to make the victory a cake-walk as Rajshahi were wrapped up for just 80 in 14.2 over.
 
Anamul Haque Bijoy who was replaced by Taskin Ahmed as captain just two hours before the game made team-high 21 for Rajshahi. Akbar Ali with 10 was the other player to reach double digits.

Naeem, who struck 56 off 41, added an 84-run with Graham Clark for the second wicket to pave the platform of the big total after the early departure of Usman Khan.

Clark hammered 28 ball-45 with two fours and three sixes before being trapped run out.

Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam then removed Naeem after he completed his seventh half-century in T20 cricket. Naeem’s innings was studded by five fours and three sixes.

Captain Mohammad Mithun kept the side flowing in the middle overs with 20 ball-32 and Pakistan recruit Haider Ali got into act with him with 25 off 14. They didn’t score big but those two knocks were impactful to edge the side closer to 200.

Captain Taskin was the most successful bowler for the side with 2-23 in four overs. Mohor Sheikh also took two but gave away 46 runs.

But his teammates made his captaincy debut with Rajshahi forgettable one.

Most of the batters played irresponsible shots to dig their own graveyards. It all started with the dismissal of opener Jishan Alam and Mohammad Haris who were dismissed in single digit figure.

Bijoy then played run-a-ball-21 and tried to steady the ship but hardly got the support around him. When Syed Khaled Ahmed took him out, Rajshahi were virtually out of the game.

It was fifth and second consecutive defeats of Rajshahi, having lost to Khulna Tigers 24 hours ago despite a century of Bijoy.

Chittagong however put them into second place behind Rangpur Riders after this victory.