DHAKA, Jan 11, 2025 (BSS) - Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and opener Mohammad 
Waseem hit half-centuries as Rajshahi Warriors comfortably chased down a big 
target to beat Rangpur Riders by seven wickets in their crucial Bangladesh 
Premier League (BPL) game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Towhid Hridoy who was promoted to open the innings for Rangpur justified the 
gamble by smashing an unbeaten 56 ball-97 not out, an innings which steered 
his side to 178-4.

But Waseem made 87 not out and Shanto struck 76 off 42 with six fours and 
four sixes to lead the side to the victory with five balls to spare, reaching 
179-3.

The victory took Rajshahi to second spot in the point table with 10 points 
from seven matches. They are now behind Chattogram with the net-run-rate 
separating the two sides.

Put into bat first, Rangpur got going well, thanks to Hridoy who came down 
heavily on Rajshahi bowlers amid the failure of the top order batters. 

The likes of Kyle Mayers, Liton and Iftikhar Ahmed were dismissed cheaply 
before Khushdil Shah provided him the support. Together they added 105 runs 
for the fourth wicket to lay the platform of a challenging total.

Khushdil was dismissed for 44 in the last over while Hridoy stranded on three 
runs shy of his second BPL century after clobbering eight fours and six 
sixes.

Chasing the target, Rajshahi lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim cheaply before Waseem 
and Shanto put on 142-run partnership for the second wicket to edge the side 
closer to a victory.

Mustafizur Rahman broke the partnership by dismissing Shanto but Waseem stood 
tall to help the side race to the victory without any fuss.

After this defeat, Rangpur moved down to third spot with eight points from 
seven matches.