Bottom ranked Chittagong Vikings completed their seven-team franchised-based 5th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 Cricket engagements with the winning note beating number 6th placed Rajshahi Kings by 45 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Despite the day’s victory, Chittagong Vikings remained at bottom in the seven–team league securing seven points from 12 encounters while Rajshahi Kings also remained at 6th slot with their previous credit of eight points from 12 outings despite of day’s defeat, reports the UNB.

Chasing a fighting total of 195 runs, Rajshahi Kings were forced to fold their innings at 149 for 9 in allocated 20 overs top concede the defeat in the league.

Rajshahi Kings made frustrating start losing two openers -- Rony Talukder (6) and Mominul Haque (9) for 43 runs in the 6.2 overs and their misery further consolidated after the dismissal of their day’s best performer SR Patel for 86 runs for 3 in 9.2 overs.

Sikandar Raza dashed the all hopes of Rajshahi Kings dismissing Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim (15) and Usama Mir (0) in two consecutive ball of the 13th overs (12.2 and 12.3) with scoreboard showing 103 for 5 in 12.3 overs.   

Samit Patel quick-fired the team the highest 62 runs off just 26 balls featuring six fours and five sixes, Zakir Hassan contributing 19 runs off 23 balls with a six New Zealand batsman James Franklin scored 12-ball 17 runs with one six and Mushfiqur Rahim made run a ball 15 with one four, were the notable Rajshahi batsmen reaching double figure.

Sikandar Raza was most successful among Chittagong bowler grabbing four wickets for 16 runs in his four over spell, Sunzamul Islam claimed two wickets for 14 runs, also in his four over spell while Luis Recce, Rayad Emrit and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each. 

Earlier, Bottom ranked Chittagong Vikings piled up a formidable total of 194 for 2 in stipulated 20 overs in the dead rubber against number 6th placed Rajshahi Kings in the seven-team 5th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket.

Both the Rajshahi Kings and Chittagong Vikings have already dropped out of the race after failing to grab one of the top four slots, however, playing this match to compete fixture as well as to secure penultimate position in the table of the seven-team franchise league.

Sent in to bat first, Chittagong Vikings made a good start scoring 69 runs in 7.5 overs in the opening stand and scored 102 runs in 13.2 overs before the collapse of the 2nd wicket.

After the departure of captain cum opening batsman Luke Ronchi scoring 30-ball 42 runs featuring four fours and two sixes and one down Soumya Sarkar with 16-ball 17 runs with two fours leaving team total 108 runs for 2 in 13.2 overs, another opener Luis Recce and two down Sikandar Raza guided the team towards a gigantic total of 194 for 2 in the stipulated overs.

The left handed English batsman Luis Recce hammered an unconquered 80 runs off just 56 balls hitting four fours and three sixes and was adjudged man of the match while two down Zimbabwean right handed batsman Sikandar Raza quick-fired an unbeaten 42 runs off just 20 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes.

Mehedy Hasan Miraz grabbed both the Vikings wickets conceding 18 runs.    

Chittagong Vikings made one change to their day’s eleven bringing Al-Amin in place of Nayeem Hasan while Rajshahi made two changes as James Franklin and Rony Talukdar replaced Lendl Simmons and Luke Wright.