|| CF Correspondent ||

Opener Naim Sheikh’s scintillating 78 off 54 went in vain as Rangpur Rangers suffered a six-wicket defeat to Chattogram Challengers to concede their second straight defeat in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Naim, the promising opener of the country, gave his side a decent total of 157-8 when his colleagues failed to reciprocate. However, it was not enough to stall the Chattogram Challengers who rode on Chadwick Walton and Imrul Kayes to canter to the victory with 158-4 in 18.2 overs.

Walton hammered highest 50 while Kayes stayed till the end to confirmed the side’s victory with 44 not out as Chattogram sealed their second victory in the third match in the tournament.

Walton and his fellow opener Avishka Fernando shared a 68-run partnership to give the side a decent platform. Lewis Gregory gave Rangpur the breakthrough, having dismissed Fernando for 37 but Walton got an ably support in Imrul Kayes to take the side closer.

Before Rangpur captain Mohammad Nabi removed Walton, the Caribbean struck 50 off 34 with four fours and three sixes.

Rangpur then got a glimmer of hope to bounce back in the match when they got the better of Chattogram captain Mahmudullah Riyad (15), who played his first match and Nasir Hossain for 3.

Kayes remained unfazed by the fall of wickets around him and stayed till the last to win the game for the side. Kayes was not out on 44 off 33 with three fours and two sixes.

Being sent to bat first, Rangpur’s innings were all about the stellar effort of Naim Sheikh who amid the wickets tumbling around him kept the side in the hunt of the decent total.

His fellow opener Mohammad Shahzad was out on run-a-ball-9 and the middle order couldn’t survive in the face of some disciplined bowling of Chattogram bowler, led by Kesrick Williams.