Sylhet succumb to another defeat as Rangpur victorious by 38 runs

Sylhet Thunder have succumbed to yet another defeat as Rangpur Rangers beat them by 38 runs in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20 at Sylhet. 

Sylhet were still without their regular skipper Mosaddek Hossain and their stand-in captain Andre Fletcher won the toss and elected to field first. 

Batting first, Rangpur Rangers notched up 199-5 courtesy of a brilliant Shane Watson innings and a late flourish.

Despite losing two wickets within the powerplay, Sylhet were off to a flying start in their chase for 200 as they picked up 58 in the powerplay. They lost their skipper Andre Fletcher in the third over to Taskin Ahmed before Lewis Gregory picked up Abdul Mazid. 

Mohammad Mithun and Sherfane Rutherford kept up with the asking rate but their stand of 38 runs was broken when substitute fielder Mukidul Islam Mugdho grabbed a fantastic catch to send Mithun back for 30.

But Rutherford continued to show Sylhet some hope as he kept the asking rate within reach and even when Shafiqullah Shafaq returned, Rutherford went on to pick up his maiden T20 fifty off 31 deliveries. But wickets kept falling at the other end as Sohag Gazi and Rony Talukder went back for 1 and a duck respectively, reducing Sylhet to 142-6 and still requiring 58 off 27 deliveries. 

Sylhet hopes ended in the 17th over when Rutherford was finally gone for 60 as he was run out ridiculously. Trying to take a quick single, Rutherford was callous as he did not ground his bat and Watson's direct hit saw him short to send Sylhet into agony. 

Mustafiz and Taskin wrapped up the tail and as Monir Hossain could not bat, Sylhet were wrapped for 161, ensuring a 38-run defeat and their ninth of the tournament. 

Mustafiz, Taskin and Gregory picked up a couple of wickets each.

Earlier, Rangpur were off to a flying start as for the first time in the tournament since arriving, Rangpur skipper Shane Watson got into his groove. Naim Sheikh continued on his good run of form as they two notched up 63 in the powerplay. Sylhet's situation worsened as Nayeem Hasan dropped Naim on 34 in the last delivery of the powerplay but the batsman did not last long as he got out a couple of overs later for 42. 

But Shane Watson continued. He picked up his fifty off 31 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes. He and Cameron Delport brought up their 50-run stand before Ebadot struck twice in the 15th over to send both of them back. Delport was caught trying a slog but in the next delivery, Ebadot produced a ripping yorker to clutter Watson's stumps on 68. Ebadot had dismissed Watson in a similar fashion in the previous match of the sides and the dismissal this time looked like an action reply but better as this time, it was even more accurate from Ebadot to go through the set Watson's defence. 

Since the double blow, Rangpur stuttered and the next to go was Lewis Gregory as he was picked by Sherfane Rutherford for 15. Rangpur looked like they could not reach a big total but a 26-run last over from Krishmar Santokie ensured that Sylhet was set a target of 200 as Rangpur ended on 199-5. 

Ebadot picked up two wickets for Sylhet with Santokie, Monir and Rutherford picked up a wicket each.