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Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was the leading run-scorer in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 before flying back home. Opening the innings for Rangpur Riders, he had scored 251 runs from six innings at an average of 50.20. However, his strike rate of 114.61 drew criticism. Replacing him as opener, South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks helped Rangpur Riders dominate in the powerplay overs. He scored 58 runs from 41 balls and set a good platform for them to post 211/3, the highest total of the season. Rangpur Riders ended up winning the match by 63 runs.
Hendricks anchors but hits big too
After winning the toss, Rangpur Riders skipper Nurul Hasan opted to bat first. Hendricks was quiet in the first three overs while Rony Talukdar attacked. In the fourth over, he hit Shohidul Islam for a six and a four. He hit another six in the sixth over. After Talukdar departed for a 17-ball 24, Shakib Al Hasan joined him and helped maintain the tempo with boundaries. In the 12th over, Hendricks got to his half-century from 36 balls.
In the 13th over, Saluddin Sakil struck twice to dismiss Shakib and Hendricks. Shakib contributed with 16-ball 27. Hendricks' 51-ball 58 featured five fours and three sixes. In comparison, Babar had managed to hit just two sixes in six games in the season. After two quick wickets, James Neesham and Nurul took their time before going berserk in the slog overs.
Neesham helps Riders cross 200
Neesham hit Al-Amin Hossain for three boundaries. In the penultimate over, Neesham and Nurul hit one six each. In the final over, Neesham hit two sixes and a four off Bilal Khan's bowling. Neesham's 26-ball 51 helped Rangpur Riders post 211/3, their second-highest total in the league's history. On the other end, Nurul remained unbeaten for 31 off 21 balls.
Quiet powerplay overs
In the run chase, Chattogram Challengers opener Josh Brown was dismissed by Shakib in the third over. Shykat Ali struggled to rotate the strike, let alone hit boundaries. After the powerplay overs, Chattogram Challengers were 32/1. In the eighth over, Imran Tahir was introduced and he trapped Tom Bruce in front of the stumps. Shakib struck again to dismiss Shahadat Hossain in the 11th over. Curtis Campher ended the over with a six.
Too late to charge
Skykat hit four sixes in the next three overs to make up for the dot balls but the required run rate had slipped out of the grasp. Shykat reached his half-century from 42 balls in the 16th over. In the 17th over, Neesham dismissed Campher. The Ireland all-rounder scored 24 runs from 21 balls. Shuvagata Hom targetted Neesham and hit him for a four and a six. In the next over, Shykat hit Mahedi Hasan for two sixes. Shuvagata hit two boundaries as well.
In the penultimate over, Shykat was run out. The opener scored 63 runs from 45 balls including one four and six sixes. In the last over, Neesham dismissed Shohidul. Shuvagata remained unbeaten for 13-ball 31 helping Chattogram Challengers post 158/6. Rangpur Riders won by 63 runs.
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