In Sylhet on Sunday, Rangpur Riders launched their Bangladesh Premier League campaign in dominant fashion, sweeping aside Chattogram Royals by seven wickets in the first match of the day. Rangpur chased down the target of 103 in 15 overs, thanks to Dawid Malan’s fifty and Litton’s 47.
After being sent in to bat, Chattogram were bundled out for just 102, a total that never threatened Rangpur, who completed the chase with 30 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand under the leadership of Nurul Hasan Sohan.
Rangpur’s reply was built on a calm and increasingly authoritative opening stand between Litton and Malan. The pair began cautiously, assessing conditions before steadily turning the pressure back on Chattogram’s bowlers with a flurry of boundaries as the innings progressed.
Litton looked set for a half-century but fell three runs short, dismissed for 47 from 31 balls. His departure briefly slowed Rangpur, with Towhid Hridoy managing just one run, but Malan ensured there were no alarms.
The England batter reached his fifty, scoring 51 from 48 deliveries, though he was unable to see the match through. The finishing touches were applied by Mahmudullah Riyad and Khushdil Shah, who guided Rangpur home without further loss. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on one, with Khushdil finishing on six.
Earlier, Rangpur had seized control of the match almost immediately after winning the toss. Nahid Rana struck with the very first ball of the innings, removing England batter Adam Rossington for one and setting the tone for a relentless bowling display.
Mohammad Naim Sheikh and Mirza Beg offered brief resistance in the second-wicket partnership, with Naim top-scoring for Chattogram with 39 from 20 balls and Beg contributing 20 from 24. Neither, however, was able to convert their start into a defining innings.
From there, Chattogram collapsed under sustained pressure from Rangpur’s attack. Only one of the final eight batters reached double figures, Abu Haider Rony scoring 13 from 21 balls, as wickets fell regularly through the middle and lower order.
Faheem Ashraf was the standout bowler, claiming five wickets in a decisive spell that dismantled the Royals’ line-up. Mustafizur Rahman provided strong support with two wickets, while three other bowlers chipped in with one apiece.
The result gave Rangpur Riders a commanding start to their BPL season, underlining their strength with both bat and ball, while Chattogram were left with plenty to reflect on after a one-sided opening contest.
