Dhaka: Rangpur Riders defended 147 to enter the playoffs of Bangladesh Premier League 2017-18 with a 19-run win over Khulna Titans at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

Titans now need to win their last clash against table-toppers Comilla Victorians to ensure a smooth passage to the playoffs.

Titans made a steady start to their chase with Michael Klinger, back in the squad after being dropped, attacking the bowlers early on.

Klinger and Nazmul Hossain helped the team race to 60 in eight overs. Nazmul Islam trapped the latter in front while Afif Hossain struggled to get going.

Once Afif was dismissed the onus fell squarely on Klinger to take the team over the line. The wickets, however, also sucked the momentum out of Klinger’s innings as Riders started to tighten their noose over the game.

When Hossain was dismissed, Klinger had scored 34 off 30 but was eventually dismissed for a 45-ball 44 in the 13th over.

Things went pear-shaped from there for the Titans as they nosedived from 83 for 2 to 97 for 6 after the middle-order crumbled under pressure.

With 41 needed off the last three overs, too much of it was left for Ariful Haque and Jofra Archer to do.

Archer, though, kept the game alive by hitting Isuru Udana for two sixes but was run out with 25 needed off the last two overs putting end to any hopes of a thrilling finish.

Earlier, Chris Gayle threatened to take the game away from Titans before his innings was cut short by Mohammad Irfan. The opener fell for a 27-ball 38 having batted for the first ten overs.

Riders had lost Ziaur Rahman with just 11 on the board before Brendon McCullum and Gayle collaborated to take the innings forward.

Shafiul Islam, who gave away 48 runs from his four overs, picked up the wicket of McCullum to hurt Riders, reports the Cricbuzz.

With Gayle and McCullum both back in the hut, Titans had gained the upper hand. Riders slipped to 98 for 5 and then soon to 105 for 6 before Mohammad Mithun’s unbeaten half-century propped up the side and pushed them over the 140-run mark.

He struck three sixes in the last over to reach his half-century off 35 balls before the bowlers fought hard to take the team through.

Brief scores: Rangpur Riders 147/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Mithun 50*; Jofra Archer 2-28) beat Khulna Titans 128/8 (Michael Klinger 44; Ravi Bopara 2-4) by 19 runs.