Dhaka: Saqlain Sajib's single from innings last ball thriller sealed a two-wicket victory for Rangpur Riders against Chittagong Vikings in the opening match of the franchise based 3rd Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Sunday.

Shafiul Islam delivered to Saqlain(1 off 1b) who came forward and drove the ball to mid-off area for the winning single as well as to set a fine opening tune in the tournament.

Rangpur Riders chased a 188 runs target for the win and complete their mission for 8 wickets in 20 overs riding on Misbah-ul-Haque's brilliant 61 off 39 balls involving three fours and four sixes.

Apart from his in brilliant individual performance, Misbah with Thisara Perera paired for 80 runs in 5.5 overs in the 6th wicket stand.

The 6th pair carried the team total to 167 for 6 in 18.2 overs from 87 for 5 in 12.3 overs, before Thisara Perera was caught by Jeevan Mendis off Mohammad Amir bowling.

Earlier in the 5th wicket stand for 64 runs in 8 overs, Misbah paired with Al-Amin to carry the team total to 87 for 5 in 12.3 overs from 23 for 4 in 4.3 overs, before Al-Amin was bowled by Elton Chigumbura.

Misbah who was adjudged man of the match bowled out by Mohammad Amir.

Thisara Perera was caught by Jeevan Mendis off a Mohammad Amir bowling scoring 43 runs off 17 balls involved four fours and three sixes while Al-Amin scored 38 runs off 28 balls three fours and one six.

Opening bat Rangpur Riders faced early jolt losing top four batsmen for a meager 23 runs in 4.3 overs.

Pacer Mohammad Amir made the breakthrough for Ctg Vikings dismissing opener Lendle Simmons for a single, was caught by Tamim, at team 22 for 1in 2.5 overs.

Within a span of single runs, from 22 to 23, Rangpur Riders lost three wickets rising all-rounder Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun and skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

Keeping them on the same score of 22, Mohammad Amir trapped Soumya lbw while pacer Taskin Ahmed sent back Mohammad Mithun for a duck also trapping lbw.

World famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was out for single, caught by Anamul Haque off a Shafiul Islam bowling, at team's 23 for 4 in 4.3 overs.

Soumya Sarkar scored 20 runs off 9 balls with three fours and one six while Darren Sammy added 18 runs off 10 balls with two fours and one six.

Mohammad Amir grabbed four wickets for 30 runs in 4 overs while Elton Chigumbura, Taskin Ahmed and Shafiul Islam took one wicket each for 9, 35 and 41 runs respectively.

Earlier, winning the toss Chittagong Vikings elected to bat first and scored a fighting total of 187 runs for 7 in 20 overs, spurred by the two partnership score of 65 and 52 runs.

Ctg Vikings started with a fine tune as their opening pair between skipper Tamim Iqbal and Lankan batsman Tillakratne Dilshan contributed 52 runs in 4.1 overs before Dilshan was caught by Arafat Sunny off an Abu Jayed bowling.

Dashing opener Tamim continued his composure pairing with Anamul Haque to contribute another 65 runs in 8.1 overs in the 2nd wicket stand. The 2nd pair carried the team total to 117 runs for 2 in 12.2 overs.

Tamim scored the highest 51 off 32 ball featuring six fours and one six and was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq at cow corner area without touching the ropes off a Saqlain Sajib bowling.

Saqlain Sajib delivered a good length ball outside the off stump, Tamim connected the ball by a slog sweep, but not well enough to clear it through the cow corner.

Anamul Haque followed Tamim quickly as he was out at team's at 119 for 3 in 13 overs scoring 36 runs off 30 balls with five fours, caught by Darren Sammy off a Saqlain Sajib bowling.

After Anamul Haque, only the 6th wicket pair of 44 runs in 4.1 overs between Jeevan Mendis and Asif Ahmed was the successful contributors for Chittagong.

Jeevan Mendis fell victim of run out hammering a 39-run off 18 balls involving three fours and three six while scoreboard showing 178 for 6 in 19.2 overs.

Asif Ahmed was another double figure contributor for the side scoring an unbeaten 17 runs off 15 balls with two fours while Shafiul Islam added not out 4 runs.

Conceding 26 runs each, Saqlain Sajib and Abu Jayed grabbed 3 and 2 wickets respectively delivering 4 overs apiece.