Bopara, Malik guide Rajshahi to win

Rajshahi Royals returned to the top of the ongoing BBPL standings with a comfortable 30-run victory over Rangpur Rangers at the Sylhet International Cricket stadium today.

Asked to bat, Afif got into his aggressive mold to start the ball rolling for Rajshahi Royals and for a moment Liton Das looked good as well before he once again departed after a bright start, out edging a Mustafizur Rahman delivery through to the wicket-keeper. Afif's innings did not last long after that as he was removed by Mohammad Nabi after a 17-ball 32.

A steady hand was necessary and it came in the shape of stand-in skipper Shoaib Malik with Andre Russell not in the playing eleven due to an eye problem. Malik kept the runs ticking along with Rovi Bopara.

Bopara took charge of big-hitting duties after Malik departed to Mustafizur after scoring a 31-ball 37. In the final three overs of the innings, Bopara latched onto anything loose enough to be hit and picked up boundaries against Nabi, Taskin Ahmed and the usually-tight Mustafizur, who went for four fours in the final over. Bopara's 29-ball 50 ensured that Royals had a decent total of 179 for four on the board.

After the restart, Mohammad Nawaz got his team a wicket early, bagging the scalp of Shane Watson, who was bamboozled by the drift and flight. Mohammad Naim threatened to launch into a crucial knock but once he departed to Malid, Rangpur did not have enough answers. Malik then bagged the wicket of Cameron Delport. Tom Abell (29) and Fazle Mahmud (34) starred in a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket but eventually the chase seemed too steep as Rangpur managed 149 for 7 in 20 overs.