Khaled Ahmed delivered a match-winning four-wicket haul to inspire the Rangpur Riders to a thrilling one-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in a last-ball cliffhanger at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday.
Defending a modest total of 151, Rangpur relied on Khaled’s fiery pace and a disciplined collective bowling effort to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Chasing 152, Hobart got off to a flying start thanks to captain Ben McDermott, who smashed 34 from just 19 balls. However, Khaled’s dismissal of McDermott—caught by substitute fielder Saif Hassan in the sixth over—shifted the momentum. That breakthrough sparked a fightback from Rangpur, who tightened their grip as the Hurricanes’ middle order faltered.
Macalister Wright (14), Jake Doran (9), and Nikhil Chaudhary (9) all fell cheaply during a phase dominated by Iftikhar Ahmed (3-0-13-2) and Rakibul Hasan (3-0-19-1), whose tight spells choked the scoring rate.
Khaled returned in the death overs to dismantle the lower order, removing Odean Smith, Fabian Allen, and Raf MacMillan in the space of five deliveries. That burst left Hobart requiring 13 runs from the final over, with just two wickets in hand.
Mohammad Nabi kept the chase alive with a composed 44 off 36 balls and brought the target down to four off four. But Azmatullah Omarzai claimed the crucial wicket, removing Nabi with a well-judged catch at long-on. The match came down to the final delivery, when Billy Stanlake was run out attempting a second run, sealing a nerve-shredding win for Rangpur.
Khaled’s figures of 4 for 26 earned him the player of the match honours—his second successive four-wicket haul in the tournament.
The win takes Rangpur Riders to the top of the table with four points from two matches. They will face the Dubai Capitals in their next fixture on 16 July.