CHITTAGONG, Nov 29 (UNB): Chittagong Vikings made their early exit from the last four race of the seven-team 5th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 after a 33-run loss against Rajshahi Kings in the 33rd match of the league at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium (ZACCS) on Wednesday.
Rajshahi Kings survived to fight for a seat in the last four moving up to 5th from penultimate slot with the 4th win on the day.
On completion of the 3rd phase of the league at ZACCS, Rajshahi aggregated eight points from 10 outings, just two points behind the 4th slot holders Rangpur Riders.
Rajshahi lost in four games and have two matches to play against Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) on December 2 and 5 respectively to utilise their chances for last-four berth.
Chittagong Vikings will play the two dead-rubbers against Sylhet Sixers and Rajshahi Kings at SBNCS in Dhaka on December 3 and 5 respectively. Chittagong remained in the bottom of the table with five points from 10 matches registering two wins, seven losses and one no results to depart from race as the first side of the tournament.
In the day's match, Rajshahi restricted Chittagong on 124 for all in 19.2 overs spurred with Qazi Onik's four-for-17, after posting a score of 157 for 6 runs in their innings.
Stiaan van Zyl top-scored for Chittagong with 27 off 29 balls and was caught by Usama Mir off Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 105/6 in 15.1 overs.
Anamul Haque (23 off 20b; 3x4; 1x6), Sikandar Raza (run-a-ball 17; 1x6), Soumya Sarkar (13 off 15b) and Tanbir Hayder (13 off 12b; 1x4) were the other double-digit scorers for the losers.
Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets for 18 runs while Usama Mir and Mohammad Sami took one wicket each for 15 and 29 runs respectively.
Batting first after winning the toss, defending runners-up Rajshahi Kings scored 157 for 6 in 20 overs, though, losing their wickets in a gradual interval before skipper Darren Sammy and James Franklin built up a partnership of 69 off 8 overs in the 5th wicket stand.
Man of the match Sammy and Franklin started their 5th pair composures from 86/4 in 11.3 overs and ended on 155/5 in 19.3 overs as Sammy was lbw by Luis Reece after top-scoring 40 off 25 balls, including two boundaries and three sixes.
Just after a one ball gap Reece found Franklin, was caught by Soumya Sarkar, on 156/6 in 19.5 overs. Franklin added run-a-ball 30 with two boundaries.
Number-4 batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 31 off 22 balls, including four boundaries and one six, while Luke Wright (25 off 21 b; 4x4) and Zakir Hossain (17 off 11b;2x4; 1x6) were the other double-digit scorers for the side.
Luis Reece captured three wickets for 33 in three overs while Nayeem Hasan, Sunzamul Islam and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each for 9, 26 and 36 runs respectively.
