Chittagong Kings almost assured their place in the four-team play-off in the seven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket beating formidable Rangpur Riders by five wickets with 14 balls remaining at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.

After the day’s match, Chittagong Kings remained at the 3rd slot in the league table securing 12 points from 10 matches with six wins and four defeats while Rangpur Riders, which confirmed the play-off berth earlier also securing 16 points from 11 encounters, featuring eight successive wins.    

Tamim Iqbal-led Fortune Barishal dominated the league by virtue of better net run rate despite securing the same 16 points from 10 matches, as the Rangpur Riders.

Sent in to bat first in the day’s vital match, Rangpur Riders scored 143 for 5 in stipulated 20 over with two down Iftikhar Ahmed contributing an unbeaten 65 runs off 47 balls, hitting seven four and three sixes

Besides, opener Soumya Sarkar (23), lower order Mahedi Hasan (22)  were the other major contributors for Rangpur Riders reaching the double digit runs.

Khaled Ahmed took two wickets for 44 runs while Shamim Ahmed and Shoriful Islam grabbed one wicket each.

Chasing a target of 144 runs, Chittagong Kings reached their ultimate goal scoring 148 runs for the loss of five wickets in 17.4 overs.

Middle order Haider Ali quick-firing an unbeaten 48 runs off just 18 balls hitting one four and six sixes and was adjudged player of the match.

Besides, operner Parvez Hoissain Emon (41), captain Mohammad Mithun (20) and Graham Clark (15) were other notable batsmen reaching the double figures.

Saif Hassan and Akif Javed captured two wickets each conceding 25 and 37 runs respectively.