After missing out on victories in their first two matches, Rangpur Riders finally ended their winless streak in the third match of the Global Super League. At the Providence Stadium in Guyana, Nurul Hasan Sohan’s Rangpur Riders defeated Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s Guyana Amazon Warriors by 15 runs.
Batting first, Rangpur Riders posted a modest total of 117 runs. Chasing a target of 118, the Amazon Warriors crumbled under pressure, losing wickets in quick succession, particularly to the pace of Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who emerged as the hero for Rangpur. Rabbi delivered a stunning performance, taking 4 wickets for just 13 runs.
The Warriors were reeling at 27/5 in 5 overs but found some resistance through a 44-ball 36-run sixth-wicket partnership between Shai Hope and Gudakesh Motie. However, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan broke the partnership by dismissing Motie in the 13th over. Hope top-scored with 35 runs for the Warriors.
For Rangpur, Rabbi’s 4-wicket haul was instrumental in securing the victory. Earlier, Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan opted to bat first after winning the toss. The team managed to bat out the full 20 overs but were bowled out for 117. Khushdil Shah was the top scorer with 58 runs, while Sohan added 15 and Rishad Hossain contributed 10. Other contributions came from Harmeet Singh (11), Soumya Sarkar (2), Mehedi Hasan (3), and Saif Hasan (8).
Guyana’s standout bowler was Dwaine Pretorius, who took 3 wickets for 15 runs. Tanzim Sakib, Imran Tahir, and Motie chipped in with 2 wickets each.
Playoff Scenario:
Rangpur’s victory keeps their hopes alive for a spot in the finals, but they face a tough road ahead. On the final day of the preliminary round, two crucial matches will decide the finalists. Victoria (4 points) will face Hampshire (2 points), while Rangpur takes on Lahore Qalandars (4 points). To make it to the final, Rangpur not only need to win their match but also meet challenging net run rate requirements. Playing the last game of the round, they will have the advantage of knowing the exact net run rate scenario.
Rangpur’s match is scheduled for Friday at 5:00 AM Bangladesh time, with the final taking place on Saturday at the same time.