Rangpur emerge victorious against Barishal in BPL 'El Clasico'
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Shamim Hossain and Hasan Mahmud held their nerves and helped Rangpur win the close combat against the classic rival Fortue Barishal by one-wicket in BPL's match 38 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.
Rangpur waited until the last three balls of the final over when Shamim edged a delivery off Mohammad Saifuddin that raced to the boundary and sealed the match.
Brandon King laid a solid foundation for their innings, scoring 45 off just 22 deliveries, joined by Shakib al Hasan who contributed 29 off 15.
Following their departure, Barishal faced a collapse and quickly lost their wickets at regular intervals. Neesham tried to rebuild but McCoy was in ominous touch as he finished with 3-34-4.
Mehidy Hasan also bagged three wickets to put a toll on Rangpur but the tail-enders rescued the side and secure the stunning win.
Earlier, Abu Haider Rony grabbed a fifer as Rangpur Riders restricted Fortune Barishal to 151-9 in 20 overs.
Barishal's captain Tamim Iqbal made a stormy start to their innings and scored a brisk 20-ball 33 but fell to ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan with a catch to Mominul Haque when he top-edged a delivery on the leg side.
Tom Banton and Kyle Mayers then added a 72-run partnership to tackle the initial pressure until Jimmy Neesham gave the breakthrough when he castled Banton on 26 runs.
Rony flipped the scenario when he took three quick wickets to dismiss Mushfiqur Rahim (5), Soumya Sarkar (0), and the prized wicket of Mayers. The Carribean smashed a 27-ball 46 featuring four boundaries and three sixes.
Rony completed his fifer by dismissing Mahmdullah Riyad (9) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3) only in his second appearance of the season.
Apart from Rony, pacer Hasan Mahmud picked up a couple of wickets and Shakib, and Neesham got one wicket apiece.