BPL 2024-25 Riders vs Tigers Highlights: Mahedi Hasan Derails Tigers After Khushdil's Blistering 73

Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah shared a match-defining partnership [Source: @BCBtigers/x]

Rangpur Riders walked away with a close win over Khulna Tigers in match number 20 of the BPL 2024-25 season at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Khushdil Shah set a competitive total for the Riders upfront while sharing a match-defining partnership with fellow Pakistani national Iftikhar Ahmed.

Here’s the timeline of how Rangpur Riders vs Khulna Tigers panned out at Sylhet:

Riders vs Tigers Highlights: Abu Hider Gets Both Openers By Halfway Stage Of Riders Innings

Rangpur Riders opener Steven Taylor started off with a boundary and a six in his eight-ball 13 before getting knocked over by Abu Hider. Khulna Tigers seamer Hasan Mahmud also got the early breakthrough in the form of Saif Hassan for just seven at the brink of the opening powerplay.

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In one of his return spells, Hider derailed Tawfique Khan’s rapid resistance at 30-ball 36 as the Rangpur Riders reached 70-3 around the halfway stage of the innings.

Riders vs Tigers Highlights: Khushdil Shah Towers Over Tigers With Six-Laden Knock

Rangpur Riders’ Pakistan-based middle-order batters Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah forged 115 runs together for the fourth wicket to bolt their team to a monumental 186-5 from 20 overs. Iftikhar launched five boundaries in his 43-run knock from 36 balls before falling to Hasan Mahmud in the penultimate ball of the innings.

Khushdil, on the other hand, notched up his second BPL fifty and the first of the 2024-25 season by unleashing 73 unbeaten runs from just 35 deliveries with four boundaries and six sixes.

The cricketer whacked four of those sixes off successive deliveries against Nasum Ahmed to signal Riders’ belligerent counterattack in the slog overs.

Riders vs Tigers Highlights: Mohammad Naim Leads Early Khulna Tigers Response

Chasing 187, Khulna Tigers raced to 57-1 by the end of the opening powerplay courtesy of Mohammad Naim and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz. After the early exit of Darwish Rasooli to Rangpur Riders fast bowler Akif Javed, Naim and Miraz stitched 61 runs together for the second wicket to take Tigers near the 100-run mark in just 11 overs.

Captain Miraz himself chipped in with 39 runs from 24 balls with three boundaries and two sixes before falling to Mohammad Saifuddin.

Riders vs Tigers Highlights: Akif Javed, Mahedi Hasan Halt Tigers With Timely Wickets

Mohammad Naim notched up a regal half-century, forming 58 runs off 41 balls from his end and shared another 45-run partnership with Afif Hossain for the third wicket. Hossain himself clattered 29 from just 15 balls to take the Tigers to an imposing 137-2 in 15 overs.

However, Mahedi Hasan (2-27) dismissed both well-set batters in quick succession, and Akif Javed (3-29) pounced on the momentum as the Tigers slipped from 137-2 to 178-9 by the completion of their innings.

Rangpur Riders escaped with a thrilling eight-run victory to maintain their unbeaten run this BPL 2024-25 season.

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