DHAKA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Noakhali Express sprung a surprise by edging mighty 
Rangpur Riders past by nine runs for their first victory in the Bangladesh 
Premier League (BPL) in seven matches at the Sylhet International Cricket 
Stadium on Friday.

Noakhali appeared to have tasted their seventh straight defeat in the 
tournament when they were bundled out for a meager 148 in 19.5 overs.
But they defended the total, much to the surprise of all cricket stakeholders 
by restricting Rangpur's vaunted batting line up to 139-9.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud played the key role, snapping up 4-26.

Iftekhar Ahmed was the top-scorer for Rangpur with 37 runs while Towhid 
Hridoy made 29. Khushdil Shah added 24.

After being asked to bat first Noakhali batted well in the first 10 overs, 
having put up 80 plus runs. But Rangpur bowlers came back strongly to stifle 
them, which proved to be decisive in bowling them out below 150.

Jaker Ali made team-best 38 and Soumya Sarkar scored 31. Habibur Rahman Sohan 
played 16 ball-30 fluently.

In the day's other match, Chattogram Royals earned a hard-fought two-wicket 
victory over Rajshahi Warriors to go on top of the BPL point table.