Dhaka: Afif Hossain wicket haul of 5/21 and James Franklin’s unbeaten half century of 63 helped Rajshahi Kings secure a six-wicket victory over Chittagong Vikings that extended their breath to stay in the race of final-four of the 4th Bangladesh Premier League T20 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. 

Despite the day’s loss, Ctg still in the 2nd slot, by virtue of better run rate, collected 12 points fro 12 outings, followed by Rajshahi Kings with equal collection and same win-loss record. Rajshahi stepped up two steps from 5th leapfrogging Rangpur Riders and Khulna Titans. 

Rangpur and Khulna, collected 12 points each, remained one match each to play against Comilla Victorians and table topper Dhaka Dynamites on Sunday, as their last chances to secure one spot for Play-off. 

In the day’s match, Rajshahi chased down a target of 112 for 4 in 13.5 overs with Franklin’s unbeaten knock off 27 balls that included five boundaries and four over boundaries. 

Mominul Haque scored 21 off 28 balls, including three boundaries, while opener Nurul Hasan added run-a-ball 12. 

Delivering three overs each, Saqlain Sajib and Imran Khan bagged two wickets each for 9 and 30 runs. 

Earlier, man of the match ‘Afif’s five-for on his BPL debut restricted Ctg Vikings to 111 for 9 in 20 overs. 

On his way to five-wicket haul, the 17-year-old boy Afif, a promising spinner of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP), dismissed -- Jahurul Islam (13), West Indian hard hitter Chris Gayle (5), Zakir Hasan (3), Saqlain Sajib (1) and Imran Khan (0) --in his four overs bowling. 

Shoaib Malik is the only notable scorer for Ctg with an unbeaten half century of 67 off 54 balls, including six boundaries and three sixes. 

Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi hit another six for Ctg on his way to 12off 7 balls. 

Sent into bat first in their 12th and last league match, Ctg skipper-cum-opener Tamim was bowled out with duck in the innings very 1st delivery of Kesrick Williams. 

Mehedi Hasan Miraz bowled out the 2nd one Anamul Haque (8), in the 4th delivery of his 1st spell, when Ctg’s collection was at 9/2 in 1.4 overs. 

Then, Afif started his hunting show taking Jahurul Islam for his five-for. 

Kesrick Williams bagged two wickets for 11 in four overs, while Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Farhad Reza took one wicket each for 15 and 23 runs.