Khulna Tigers knock star-studded Rangpur Riders out of the BPL

A shocking batting collapse led to Rangpur Riders suffering a heavy nine-wicket defeat against Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Eliminator match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

With this victory, Mehidy Hasan Miraz's side advanced to the second qualifier, keeping their championship hopes alive.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Rangpur Riders found themselves in deep trouble against Khulna's spin attack. Despite boasting stars like James Vince, Andre Russell, and Tim David, the team was bundled out for just 85 runs in 16.5 overs—the lowest-ever total in a BPL playoff match, surpassing the previous record of 86 runs.

The top-order failure was stark, as Rangpur lost their first five wickets for a mere 15 runs. Only two batsmen managed to reach double digits, and no player other than their lower-order batsman Akif Javed, a specialist bowler, could cross the 30-run mark. Skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan tried to offer some resistance, scoring 23 off 25 balls with two boundaries, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Amid the carnage, Pakistani pacer Akif Javed displayed an unexpected batting effort. Batting at No. 10, he played an aggressive knock, scoring 32 off 18 balls with four fours and two sixes. His 33-run last-wicket stand with Nahid Rana (who remained unbeaten on 0 off 9 balls) helped Rangpur reach a somewhat respectable total.

For Khulna, spinners Miraz and Nasum Ahmed were the architects of destruction, claiming three wickets each. Miraz's spell was particularly economical, conceding just 10 runs in four overs, while Nasum gave away 16. Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Mahmud, and Mushfik Hasan picked up a wicket apiece to ensure Rangpur never recovered.

Chasing 86, Khulna suffered an early hiccup as they lost captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the first over. However, Naim Sheikh and Alex Ross steadied the innings with an unbroken 87-run stand to guide their team to a dominant victory in just 10.2 overs.

Naim Sheikh continued his prolific form in the tournament, remaining unbeaten on 48 off 33 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. With this innings, he became the highest run-scorer of the tournament, accumulating 492 runs in 13 matches at an average of 44.72, including a century and three half-centuries. His partner, Alex Ross, played a composed innings, finishing on 29 off 27 balls with four boundaries.

Akif Javed was the lone wicket-taker for Rangpur, but his efforts were in vain as Khulna reached the target with 58 balls to spare.

The result marked a dramatic end to Rangpur Riders' campaign. After a flying start, where they won their first eight matches and were the first team to secure a playoff spot, they suffered a stunning collapse, losing their last five games in a row to crash out of the tournament.

In contrast, Khulna Tigers are now on a three-match winning streak, having won their last two league games in virtual knockout scenarios before dominating Rangpur in the Eliminator. With this momentum, they move into the second qualifier, where they will fight for a place in the grand finale.

With their playoff dream shattered, Rangpur will now look back at what went wrong after such a promising start. Meanwhile, Khulna Tigers march forward, keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize.

Brief Score

• Rangpur Riders: 85 all out in 16.5 overs (Akif Javed 32, Nurul Hasan 23; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/10, Nasum Ahmed 3/16)
• Khulna Tigers: 87/1 in 10.2 overs (Naim Sheikh 48*, Alex Ross 29*; Akif Javed 1/15)
• Result: Khulna Tigers won by 9 wickets