Gregory all-round display ends Rangpur’s defeat-jinx
Photo - BCB , Roton Gomes
|| CF Correspondent ||
Lewis Gregory helped Rangpur Rangers end their four-match losing streak in style as he put up a superb all-round performance to bring down a high-flying Chattogram Challengers to the earth, handing the hosts a six-wicket defeat in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Saturday.
Gregory firstly claimed 2-27 before his sublime 37 ball-76 not out, studded with seven fours and five sixes sailed the side home to give them their maiden victory in the fifth match.
Alongside Gregory, Mustafizur Rahman also dazzled with cherry to snap up 2-23 in four overs as Chattogram Challengers who posted consecutive two 200 plus total in the last two matches saw them restricted to mediocre 163-7 after which Gregory came up with his masterclass to make it a match to remember for him.
Five consecutive defeats for Rangpur was on the cards when they were reduced to 36-3 in seventh over. However the English all-rounder Gregory steadied the ship with a 40-run partnership with Shadman Islam who made 16.
After Shadman’s departure, he got ably support in Fazle Mahmud and grew with the strength to strength to leave Chattogran in a shocked state. As the asking run-rate climbed alarmingly, Gregory, struck sixes at will to bring down it in their favor and subsequently helped the side win the game by hitting the winning boundary. Fazle Mahmud also matched with him by playing an aggressive 38 off 21 with four fours and two sixes to complement Gregory
Rubel Hossain snared 2-37 for Chattogram.
Earlier being sent to bat first, Avishka Fernando fought lonely for Chattogram Challengers.
The Sri Lankan recruit smashed a 40 ball-72, hitting eight fours and four sixes but found little support from others. And this was the reason that they this time failed to post 200 plus total on the board. In the last two matches, Chattogram amassed 200 plus total, including 238-4 against Cumilla Warriors which was the season’s highest and the second-highest in BPL history.
The next best after Fernando’s innings was Nurul Hasan Sohan’s 20, which was the testament of how one-man show it was by the Lankan opener.
Liam Plunkett playing his first match for Chattogram in this season later scored 12 ball-17 not out to help the side propel past 150.
Mustafizur Rahman showed that he is on the way to regain his form as he claimed 2-23 in his four-over to help Gregory’s cause.
Despite the defeat Chattogram still leads the point table with 10 points from seven matches while Rangpur Rangers’ point is two after five matches.
