Dhaka: Rangpur Riders advanced to semifinal of the 3rd Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with outshine eight-wicket victory over Sylhet Super Stars at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

Rangpur Riders chased down an easy target of 60 for 2 in 9.5 overs, replying to Sylhet Super Stars 59/10 in 11.5 overs on their way to confirm the semifinal spot as the 2nd team, after Comilla Victorians, in the flamboyant Twenty20 league.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan hammered two consecutive boundaries in the innings’ last two deliveries off Rubel Hossain to draw the polish win.

Shakib scored unbeaten 29 off 24 balls with four fours while Jahirul Islam (9 off 13b) stayed aside with Shakib till the end for their unbeaten 38 off 4.4 overs in the 3rd wicket stand.

Soumya Sarkar scored 11 off 14 balls with one four who was another double digit scorer for Rangpur.

Mohammad Shahid grabbed both two wickets for 18 runs in four overs.

Earlier, sent in to bat first Sylhet Super Stars were forced to bundle out for a narrow 59, the 2nd lowest in the league, in 11.5 overs with the only double figure score of 20 off 17 balls involving one four and one six by number eight batsman Sohail Tanvir.

Left-handed spinner Arafat Sunny who captured four wickets for 14 runs in four overs was adjudged man of the match.

Afghan off-break bowler Mohammad Nabi claimed three wickets for15 runs in 2.5 overs while world famed all-rounder cum skipper Shakib Al Hasan grabbed two wickets 25 runs in 4 overs. Thisara Perera took another wicket for four runs in one over.

Rangpur Riders collected 12 points from nine matches including six wins and three losses to ensure the semifinal berth.

Including this loss, Sylhet Super Stars remained in their collection of four points from eight matches with two wins and six losses.