BPL
Romario Shepherd's fifty in vain as Rangpur cement top position
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Rangpur Riders defeated Chattogram Challengers by 18 runs in match-34 of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.
Romario Shepherd's swashbuckling knock went in vain as Rangpur's bowlers restricted Chattogram to 169-6 in their pursuit of 188 runs.
South Africa's Dwaine Pretorius and spinner Mahedi Hasan ripped through the batting line-up by continually taking wickets at regular intervals. Pretorious rattled down the top order taking three wickets during the first powerplay, as he sent off Josh Brown (4), Tanzid Tamim (13) and Shykat Ali (9) sinking Chattogram to 32-3.
Tom Bruce and Shuvagata Hom formed a 45-run partnership that steadied their innings until Mahedi gave the breakthrough by taking consecutive wickets in the same over.
Hom departed on 21 off 19, followed by Bruce who managed to score 24 in 24 deliveries aided by one boundary and a six.
Romario Shephard played a blistering innings of 66 runs off just 30 balls, smashing five 4's and six 6's to help Chattogram narrow the gap.
Earlier, opting to bat Rangpur rode on the batting of Shakib al Hasan's convincing half-century as they posted 187-8 in the stipulated overs.
Rangpur lost the openers early in the game as Rony Talukdar scored 25 and Reeza Hendricks for 4 runs. Shakib played single-handedly and added a 68-run partnership with Mahedi.
Shakib top-scored with 68 off 39 featuring five 4's and three 6's and Mahedi played a cameo of 34 off 17 hitting four sixes.
Shephard scalped three wickets, Shohidul Islam and Nihaduzzaman each took a double for Chattogram.