DHAKA, Feb 3, 2024 (BSS) - Rangpur Riders came up with yet another ruthless performance to crush Sylhet Strikers by 77 runs in their sixth match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

In the last match of the Sylhet phase of BPL, Rangpur, which was asked to bat first, compiled a respectable 162-7 and thereafter their bowlers did the rest, wrapping up Sylhet for just 85 in 16.5 overs.
 
The victory put Rangpur in the top of the point table with eight points from six matches. Khulna and Chattogram also had eight points but Rangpur beat them, thanks to net run rate, which got a massive boost due to big victory today. Sylhet after suffering sixth defeat in seventh match languished to bottom of the table. 

Pakistan star Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form in BPL, giving the side yet another decent start even though his opening partner Brandon King was dismissed for just 1.

Babar who struck 37 ball-47, clobbering seven boundaries kept the runs flowing amid the Harry Tector's double strike, which accounted Fazle Rabbi for 14 and Shakib Al Hasan for duck in consecutive deliveries.

Captain Nurul Hasan Sohan then joined him and gave the impetus that needed to post a good total. Samit Patel who had figures of 2-14, got the better of Babar to stem the run flow.

Sohan, ably supported by Azamatullah Omarzai, ruled the bowlers then to put the side in strong position. Sohan hit five fours and one six for his 46 off 30 while Omarzai made a rapid 22 off 14.

While his eye sight problem limited his batting ability considerably, Shakib's bowling still remained lethal. The ace allrounder finished with 2-18 to deny Sylhet to regroup after Mahedi Hasan and Omarzai sliced the top order.

Mahedi extended Najmul Hossain Shanto's lean patch by dismissing him for 1 and Omarzai removed Tector for 6. Shakib meanwhile got the better of Samit Patel (11) and captain Mohammad Mithun (1) who were the architect of Sylhet's victory against Chattogram last night.

Mohammad Nabi who took 3-17, and Mahedi who finally returned figures of 3-13 cleaned up the tail to give Rangpur its fourth victory in the tournament.