BPL 2015 Match#26 Rangpur Riders Vs Comilla Victorians played at SBNCS on 8 December 2015
Rangpur Riders 153/6 (Jahurul Islam 62*, Daren Sammy 24, Shakib Al Hasan 20, Abu Haidar 2/28, Ashar Zaidi 1/14) beat Comilla Victorians 132 All Out (Imrul Kayes 38, Abu Haidar 18* , NLTC Perera 3/18, Mohammad Nabi 2/ 13, Saqlain Sajib 2/ 19) by 21 runs
Player of the Match: Jahurul Islam (Rangpur Riders)
In the battle of giants, Riders prevailed over Victorians achieving the top spot of the qualification round of BPL 2015. It was a top quality contest on a double-paced wicket where Riders posted a competitive score of 153 batting first and then defended capably absorbing the early counter attacks of Victorians achieving a creditable win by 21 runs.
Both the teams have already qualified for the semifinal. It won’t be surprising if both are seen eventually to play in the finals if the rest of matches of the tournament pan out in that manner.
It has now become a trend that team winning toss puts opposition to bat. Yesterday was not different. Jahurul is an under rated batsman in Bangladesh according to many cricket analysts. Few also believe that he is yet to fulfill his promise. In this BPL, he has started shinning again. He had earlier played match winning innings against Vikings and Dynamites.
On the day on a difficult wicket against a good attack marshaled by indomitable Mashrafe he batted superbly while most of the others like Soumya, Shakib, Simmons, Perera failed to live up to reputation. 
He was the Kingpin with his unbeaten 62 in 50 deliveries. Coming in to bat at number 3 in the very second over after another failure of Soumya Sarkar he held the innings together while wickets tumbled around him at regular interval.
Mashrafe shuffled his bowlers intelligently and even bringing himself to bowl an over. A score of 153/6 however, was still not considered enough on a relatively better wicket at half way of the match.
Sammy with 24 and Shakib with 20 were other notable contributors. Promising Abu Haidar once again was the pick of the Victorian bowlers taking 2/28 while Ashar Zaidi bowled his miserly 4 overs giving away only 14 runs and grabbing the wicket of Simmons.
Victorians made a rollicking start from blazing bat of Imrul Kayes racing to 38 off 28 deliveries with 6 boundaries and a six. 48 were knocked off by the sixth over. But once he was removed Riders took control with accurate Mohammad Nabi taking two important wickets of Shehzad and Ashar Zaidi in quick succession.
From there on high quality all round Riders bowling took control. Perera, Sajib, Shakib and Sunny puzzled Victorains batting. Malik (15) and Shubhagato could (12) reach double figures. Caribbean recruit Andre Russel failed to deliver.
A last stage explosion by Abu Haidar could take Victorians closer to the target, which still remained 21 runs apart when the innings was closed. Riders climbed to the peak. Riders have horses for the courses in their bowling attack.
Shakib, Sunny, Sajib and Nabi are the most difficult spinners to handle on a turning track. Perera is very effective pacer as well. Riders and Victorians have both assured their place among the top four.
The semifinal line up will be drawn today as Dynamites and Bulls will work out after the matches today where they end up.
BDST: 1010 HRS, DEC 09, 2015
RS
