United News of Bangladesh

Mid-table Durbar Rajshahi  forced League leader Rangpur Riders to concede first defeat in the seven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket beating them by 24 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday. Despite the day’s maiden defeat, Rangpur Riders maintained their top slot in the league intact securing 16 points from nine matches with eight wins and one defeat while middle rated Durbar Rajshahi are still struggling for the qualifiers with eight points from ten encounters. Sent into bat first in the day’s match, Durbar Rajshahi piled up a moderate 170 for 9 in 20 overs with middle order Yasir Ali quick-firing 60 runs off 32 deliveries hitting two four and six sixes. Later Yasir was adjudged most valuable player of the match by Cricinfo. Opener Sabbir Hossain (39), one down Anamul Haque Bijoy (34), another opener Mohammad Haris (19) were the other notable batters to reach the double figures. BPL: Rajshahi beat Sylhet as Sunzamul takes three wickets Akif Javed and Khurshdil Shah grabbed three wickets each conceding 23 and 31 runs respectively. In reply, Rangpur Riders were bundled out for 146 runs in 19.2 overs with one down Saif Hasan making 29-ball 43 runs featuring five fours and two sixes. Nurul Hasan Shohan fired a captain knock of 41 runs off 26 balls hitting four fours and two sixes, bowling all rounder  Mohammad Saifuddin  made 14-ball 23 runs including two fours and a six while and Khurhdil Shah made 13-ball 14 runs featuring a six, were the main contributors for Rangpur Riders. Ryan Buri of Rajshahi claimed four wickets 22 runs and was adjudged player of the match while SM Meherob and Taskin Ahmed took two wickets each giving away 19 and 20 runs respectively.

Usman Khan smashed the first century of the season and guided Chittagong Kings to a big 105-run win over Durbar Rajhahi in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Friday. Rajshahi won the toss and sent Chittagong to bat first. Chittagong lost their first wicket in the first over of the match. But Usman’s century helped them take control. In the second wicket stand, Graham Clark and Usman added 120 runs. When Graham left 40 of 25 balls in 11th, Chittagong reached 121 runs. Despite Graham's departure, Usman continued to dominate the Rajshahi bowling attack. He smashed 13 fours and six sixes in his 123 off 62 balls. Mohammad Mithun and Haider Ali also contributed with 28 and 12, respectively, to help Chittagong post a large total of 219 for five. Taskin’s record-breaking bowling show power Rajshahi to win over Dhaka Taskin Ahmed, who bagged seven wickets in the previous match for just 19 to make BPL record, scalped two this time. In reply, Rajshahi were never in a position to offer a real threat to Chittagong. Inside the powerplay, they lost three wickets to score 50 runs. But from there, they were unable to accelerate their innings further. Opener Mohammad Haris was their best batter scoring 32 runs. Four of their other batters have also reached two-digit totals but failed to continue. Aliss Al Islam, a right-arm spinner, took three wickets for 17 runs, and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny also bagged three wickets. Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Wasim scalped two wickets each. It was the first win for Chittagong and Rajshahi’s second defeat in the event.

Fortune Barishal, the defending champions, defeated Durbar Rajshahi by four wickets in the opening match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Monday. Mahmudullah Riyad and Faheem Ashraf's 88-run seventh-wicket partnership was instrumental in securing the win. To chase a challenging target of 198, Barishal lost their opener Najmul Hossain Shanto in the very first ball of their innings. He was trapped lbw by Jishan Alam. Within the powerplay, they lost two more wickets and were reduced to 30 for three wickets. Towhid Hridoy posted 32 off 23 balls in his bid to control the early damage. But Kyle Mayers (5), and Mushfiqur Rahim (13) fell quickly to put Barishal into further trouble. Yasir, Anamul shine in BPL season opener with fifties Even before half of the overs were bowled, Barishal lost half of their wickets. In the 13th over, they lost their 6th wicket. Mahmudullah and Ashrafe stood strong at this point of the match and formed a strong match-winnings partnership. They chased down the target with four wickets in hand with 11 balls to play. Earlier, riding on Yasir Ali’s unbeaten 94 off 47 balls, and 65 off 51 balls by Anamul Haque, Rajshahi posted 197 for three. Rajshahi, who were put to bat first after losing the toss, lost their first wicket in the second over of the innings as Jishan Alam was sent back by Kyle Mayers for a duck. With 25 runs on the board, Rajshahi lost their second wicket. Cricket fans clash in Mirpur for BPL tickets When Barishal was trying to get control of the match, Anamul and Yasir formed a 140-run stand in the third-wicket partnership. Before falling in the 18th over, Anamul posted 65 off 51 balls with four fours and five sixes. However, Yasir was firm on the other end of the wicket. He remained unbeaten at 94, smashing seven fours and eight sixes. Mayers took two wickets for Rajshahi, who made a comeback to BPL after missing out on the event for years. Meanwhile, fans clashed in front of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday for tickets. They broke a gate of the stadium. Police had to use batons to disperse the crowd.