Rangpur suffer fourth consecutive loss as Khulna stay in play-off hunt
The win allowed Khulna to keep their play-off aspirations alive, with a crucial win over Dhaka Capitals now needed to secure their spot in the next phase.
Khulna Tigers kept their play-off hopes alive with a crucial 46-run victory over Rangpur Riders in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The win pushed Khulna to 10 points from 11 matches, placing them in fifth position on the table, while Rangpur's poor form continued with a fourth consecutive defeat.
Rangpur, who were the first team to secure a play-off spot after eight straight wins, are now in danger of missing out on the final phase after dropping points in their last few matches.
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At Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Khulna set a daunting target of 221 runs after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Naim Sheikh was the star with the bat, registering an unbeaten 111 off 62 balls, including 7 fours and 8 sixes, marking his first-ever BPL century.
It was also his second T20 century, following his 105 runs in the 2020 Bangabandhu T20 Cup. He was well supported by captain Mahmudul Hasan Miraz (21), Willaim Bessisto (36), and Mahidul Islam Ankon (29), as Khulna posted their highest total in BPL history, finishing at 220/4.
Rangpur's chase, however, never gained momentum. Despite a valiant 74-run effort from Soumya Sarkar, who hit 6 fours and 5 sixes off 48 balls, Rangpur fell short, managing just 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Sarkar's knock was the only bright spot, with no other batter able to cross 30 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed made 19 from 15 balls, while Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin contributed 18 and 14 respectively, but their efforts were in vain.
Khulna's bowlers did their job well, with young pacer Mufid Hasan claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Mohammad Nawaz picked up 2 wickets. Nasum Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud both took 1 wicket each, ensuring Rangpur's chase was derailed.
Rangpur's defeat marked their fourth straight loss, a dramatic turn of events for a team that had previously looked unstoppable. With 16 points from 12 matches, they remain in second place, but their path to the play-offs is now uncertain.
Khulna, with 10 points, still have a chance to make it into the top four, and a victory in their final league match against Dhaka Capitals could secure their place in the play-offs, depending on their net run rate.
