BPL 2024-25 Tigers vs Riders Highlights: Naim's Valiant Century Hands Rangpur Fourth Straight Loss

Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Source: @cricketangon/X.com)

Khulna Tigers, courtesy of Mohammad Naim's 111*, rocked Rangpur Riders with a 46-run victory in Match 39 of the BPL 2024/25 season. Tigers defended the score of 220 by halting the opposition on the score of 174 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Here’s the timeline of how Khulna Tigers vs Rangpur Riders panned out in Dhaka:

Tigers vs Riders Highlights: Naim's Solid Start Keeps Khulna Ahead

Batting First, Khulna Tigers' openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim started well with three sixes in the first two overs as they put up 32 on the board after 3.4 overs, with the former smashing 21 (12) before getting departed. However, after they lost Miraz, new batter Alex Ross couldn't stay for long as he got run out for 12 in the eighth over with 60 written after the Tigers' name.

William Bosisto came in and played a solid hand support Naim, who raced to his fifty off 33 deliveries, courtesy of three massive sixes against Iftikhar Ahmed in the 12th over as Khulna crossed the 100-run mark.

Tigers vs Riders Highlights: Scintillating Century From Naim Push Tigers' Score To Gigantic 220

Given the circumstances, Bosisto continued to play a vital role with three fours and two sixes to his name during his knock of 36 runs from 21 deliveries. Significant action was happening at the other end, where Naim consistently found boundaries with ease and without much worry.

In 15.1 overs, they breached the 150-run mark for the loss of just three wickets as Mahidul Islam Ankon then joined Naim after Bosisto's dismissal. Both the batters kept the scoreboard moving as Naim went on to score his hundred off just 55 deliveries with eight sixes and seven boundaries in his knock of unbeaten 111.

Mahidul provided ample support, with 29 coming off his bat from just 15 balls, as Khulna managed to touch the high-profile target of 220. From the bowlers, Mohammad Saifuddin was as expensive as anything, with 55 runs leaking from his three overs, while their most successful, Akif Javed, picked one wicket for 31 runs in 3 overs.

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Tigers vs Riders Highlights: Soumya Keeps Riders In Race While Wickets Tumble From Other End

Chasing the daunting target of 221, Rangpur were under immense pressure right from the start as they lost their opener, Tawfique Khan, for just 9, trapped in front by Nasum Ahmed in the second over. However, their other opener and experienced Bangladeshi batter, Soumya Sarkar, found 17 runs off Nasum in the fourth over.

Unfortunately, things took a drastic turn at the opposite end when Saif Hassan was found short of his crease in the very next over, following which Pakistani stalwart Iftikhar Ahmed too went back to the pavilion for just 19 after playing few good shots, leaving his side in a lot of trouble.

Amid all this, Soumya kept playing one shot after another, showing no signs of stopping when Mahedi Hasan joined him in the middle to smash a few lusty blows. By the end of 11 overs, they were 98 for three with 123 more required from 54 balls.

Tigers vs Riders Highlights: Musfik Hasan Picks Three As Soumya's Effort Couldn't Save Rangpur

Despite the best of efforts from Soumya Sarkar, who played an outstanding 74-run knock in just 48 deliveries with five sixes and six fours, Rangpur lost the game by a margin of 46 runs as pacer Musfik Hasan delivered an outstanding spell of 3/24 in his four overs.

Riders could only manage 174 in the end for the loss of 9 wickets as no one apart from Soumya and Mahedi (27) could breach the 20-run mark. Mohammad Nawaz bowled one excellent over for eight runs, where he picked up two wickets, while Hasan Mahmud's spell looked like 1/20 in four overs.

With this win, Rangpur have been handed their fourth consecutive loss, while Khulna have kept themselves in contention for playoffs.

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