Rajshahi Warriors climbed to the top of the Bangladesh Premier League points table after holding off Sylhet Titans by five runs in the second match of the day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Batting first, Rajshahi were restricted to 147 for 8 from their 20 overs after losing both openers early. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the innings with a crucial partnership, but the momentum faded once the pair departed, leaving Rajshahi short of a more commanding total.
Mushfiqur top-scored with 40, while Shanto added 30. Abdul Gaffar Saklain made 16, Sahibzada Farhan scored 14 and Jimmy Neesham contributed 12, with the rest of the batting line-up failing to reach double figures.
Sylhet’s chase of 148 began steadily and they remained in contention for much of the innings. However, a collapse in the lower middle order proved decisive, as they fell just short despite being well placed at one stage.
Parvez Hossain Emon led the scoring for Sylhet with 41, while Mominul Haque made 31 and Ethan Brooks chipped in with 27. The lack of support from the remaining batters ultimately cost them the match.
Rajshahi’s bowlers held their nerve at the death, with Ripon Mondol leading the way by taking four wickets. Binura Fernando picked up two, while three other bowlers claimed one wicket each to seal a hard-fought victory and lift Rajshahi to the top of the table.
