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All-round Lewis halts Chattogram to give Rangpur maiden win in BBPL
DHAKA, Dec 21, 2019 (BSS)-Lewis Gregory demonstrated a sterling all-round performance to help Rangpur Rangers bring down high-flying Chattogram Challengers to the earth and thereby secured a six-wicket win to seal their maiden victory after defeat in four matches in a row in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium today.
The English all-rounder at first claimed 2-27 to restrict Chattogram to 163-7 before he struck a sublime 37 ball-76 not out with seven fours and five sixes to help the side reach the winning target with 167-4 in 18.4 overs.
Five consecutive defeats for Rangpur was on the cards when they were reduced to 36-3 in seventh over. However Gregory steadied the ship with 40-run partnership with Shadman Islam who made 16.
After Shadman’s departure , he got ably support in Fazle Mahmud and grew with strength to strength to leave Chattogram in shocked state. As the asking run-rate climbed alarmingly, Gregory, struck sixes at will to bring down it in their favour and subsequently helped the side win the game by hitting the winning boundary. Fazle Mahmud also matched with him by playing an aggressive 38 off 21 with four fours and two sixes to complement Gregory
Rubel Hossain took 2-37 for Chattogram.
Earlier being sent to bat first, Avishka Fernando fought lonely for Chattogram Challengers.
The Sri Lankan recruit smashed a 40 ball-72, hitting eight fours and four sixes but found little support from others. And this was the reason that they this time failed to post 200 plus total on the board. In the last two matches Chattogram amassed 200 plus total, including 238-4 against Cumilla Warriors which was the season’s highest and the second highest in BPL history.
The next best after Fernando’s innings was Nurul Hasan Sohan’s 20, which was the testament of how one man show it was by the Lankan opener.
Liam Plunkett playing his first match for Chattogram in this season later scored 12 ball-17 not out to help the side propel past 150.
Mustafizur Rahman showed that he is on the way to regain his form as he claimed 2-23 in his four over to help Gregory’s cause.
Despite the defeat Chattogram still leads the point table with 10 points from seven matches while Rangpur Rangers’ point is two after five matches.
BSS/SMP/MMA/2240hrs