Mustafiz-Delport leads Rangpur to second win

Mustafizur Rahman's brilliant piece of bowling and some firepower from Cameron Delport helped Rangpur Rangers beat Sylhet Thunder by seven wickets in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019. 

Chasing the target of 134 set by Sylhet, Rangpur reached victory fairly comfortably with Naim Sheikh batting through the innings. Mustafizur Rahman was adjudged man of the match for picking up 3 wickets for 10 runs in his quota of four overs.

Winning the toss, Rangpur skipper Shane Watson opted to field first. Batting first, Sylhet managed to score a meagre 133, courtesy of Mohammad Mithun's 62. Mustafizur Rahman's brilliant spell of 3-10 in four overs ensured that Sylhet were packed for a very small total. 

Chasing a relatively small target of 134, Rangpur were dealt an early blow as Ebadat Hossain bowled Rangpur skipper Watson with a brilliant 142 kph yorker. But from then on, it was Cameron Delport show. 

Sylhet were without their skipper Mosaddek Hossain during fielding as the right-handed batsman injured his neck attempting a dive to save his wicket. He left the field with help and was under observation. Mithun deputised for Mosaddek in the meantime. 

He and Naim Sheikh hit the bowlers all around the park and among the two, Delport was destructive. He literally wreaked havoc on the Sylhet bowlers to pick up his fifty off only 24 deliveries and did not stop. He was finally gone when Nayeem Hasan took a good catch off Naveen-ul-Haq's bowling to send Delport back for 63.

Lewis Gregory was gone for four to Naveen-ul-Haq and Naveen struck his compatriot Nabi in front and the umpire raised his finger. But Nabi reviewed instantly and replays suggested that the ball was missing leg stump hence the decision was overturned. 

But Naim and Mohammad Nabi ensured that no more wickets fell and the Northerners reached the target with seven wickets and 16 balls in hand. 

Naim was unbeaten on 37 from 50 deliveries whereas Naveen-ul-Haq picked up a couple of wickets with Ebadot picking up one. 

Earlier, Sylhet were dealt with an early blow as their Caribbean opener Andre Fletcher returned for a duck in the very second ball of their innings. Fletcher tried to slog Arafat Sunny but only managed to loop the ball upwards and Cameron Delport took a good catch. 

His opening partner Johnson Charles soon followed in the fourth over, as his catch was taken by Mohammad Nabi off Mukidul Islam Mugdho on 9, reducing the side to 16-2. 

Sylhet skipper Mosaddek Hossain came in next, and he gave a chance straight away as he top-edged a Mugdho delivery, but the bowler failed to grab the chance and Mosaddek survived. 

Mosaddek, along with Mohammad Mithun, steadied the ship for Sylhet. Mithun though was aggressive from the start and picked up his fifty off 35 deliveries. 

Mosaddek went back for 15 off 23 deliveries when a brilliant Naim Sheikh direct him saw the end to Sylhet skipper's slow knock. Mosaddek gave a scare to the fans as he walked back hurt which he sustained from his dive to save his wicket. 

Sherfane Rutherford came in and started to accelerate, but did not last long as he was taken at the mid-wicket boundary by Naim Sheikh off Lewis Gregory. Next to go was Nazmul Hossain Milon as he was caught at the boundary for 1 off Nabi. 

Sylhet's hopes for a challenging total were dealt a telling blow as Mustafizur Rahman came in the 17th over to pick up Mohammad Mithun. Mithun tried to pull a short delivery from Mustafiz, but only managed to find Arafat Sunny at square leg who took a good catch.

Nayeem Hasan got a life in the 18th over as Al-Amin jr. dropped an easy catch off Mukidul Islam, denying him his second scalp of the match.

Mustafiz picked up his second wicket of the match in the last over of the innings as Nayeem gave a catch to the third man boundary and this time around, Al-Amin jr. did not do any mistake. Mustafiz was on a hat-trick as Sohag Gazi tried to slog but only managed to send it skywards and Watson at extra cover took an easy catch. 

Mustafiz missed out on a hat-trick, but Nabi's direct hit made sure that Monir Hossain was sent back on the next delivery anyway to reduce Sylhet to 131-9. Mustafiz's last over cost only two which meant Sylhet ended up on a small total of 133-9. 

Mustafiz picked up three wickets for 10 runs in his four overs with Mugdho, Nabi, Gregory and Sunny picked up a wicket each.

This marks Rangpur's second win of the tournament whereas it was Sylhet's seventh defeat.