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SYLHET: Hasan Mahmud’s four-wicket haul helped Noakhali Express edge past Rangpur Riders by nine runs in the 20th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 here at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Set stiff 149, Riders fell short and could only muster 139-9 at the end of their 20 overs.
Dawid Malan and Litton Das added 21 on the opening wicket partnership before both were back in the hutch in successive overs.
Malan scored seven while Das hit three boundaries before getting bowled for 15 off 13.
As a result, Rangpur Riders were in early trouble with 23-2 in four overs.
With his side in trouble, Iftikhar Ahmed and Towhid Hridoy launched a recovery with a 63-run partnership, although it was on the slower side, taking 51 balls.
The pair’s calculated batting brought the total to 86 in 12.3 overs before Iftikhar got caught. The right-hander remained the top scorer with 37 from 31 balls with the help of six fours.
Hridoy and Mahmudullah added 14, but a lower middle order collapse slumped them to 112-6 in 16.5 overs.
Nonetheless, with 15 required off the last over, Hasan Mahmud delivered an impressive over, picking up three wickets while giving away only five runs, sealing the first win of the tournament for his side.
Earlier, put into bat first, Rangpur Riders bowlers did well to bundle out Noakhali Express for 148 in 19.4 overs.
Soumya Sarkar and Shahadat Hossain were off the blocks quickly, adding 25 in 2.1 overs.
But Mustafizur Rahman broke the threatening stand with Hossain’s wicket, who scored 14 from eight.
Meanwhile, Sarkar and Habibur Rahman Sohan steadied the innings as they stitched a 43-run partnership, which brought the total to 68 at the end of seven overs.
Sohan’s brisk 30 off 16 included two sixes and three fours.
With Noakhali Express cruising, Riders’ bowlers made a roaring comeback with quick wickets in the middle overs.
Jaker Ali remained the top-scorer with 38 off 37 while Mahidul Islam Ankon hit a six and a four to lift them to a competitive total.
For Rangpur Riders, Mustafizur Rahman and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury shared six wickets each.
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