Rangpur Riders maintain unbeaten run as Khulna stumble again

Rangpur Riders' pacer Akif Javed struck Mahidul Islam on the foot with the very first delivery of the 19th over. Though Mahidul received treatment from the physio and resumed batting, he couldn't hold on for long. Akif's very next ball dismantled his stumps.

That seemed to mark the moment Khulna lost their rhythm. New batter Imrul Kayes hit a boundary off the fifth delivery of the over, only to be caught by Iftikhar Ahmed on the next ball. From a seemingly manageable equation of 18 runs needed off 12 balls, Khulna now required 12 runs in the final over—still achievable in T20 cricket.

But the chase fell apart in dramatic fashion. Saifuddin, bowling the last over for Rangpur, gave away only 3 runs while claiming 3 wickets, including two run-outs, as Khulna wilted under the pressure. Despite a strong start, Khulna ended their innings 8 runs short, extending their losing streak to three consecutive matches. Having arrived in Sylhet after back-to-back wins in Dhaka, Khulna now head to Chattogram in desperate search of form. Rangpur, on the other hand, wrapped up the Sylhet phase unbeaten after seven matches, cementing their top spot in the table.

Set a target of 187 by Rangpur, Khulna lost opener Darwish Rasooli early for 31 runs. However, a 61-run stand between captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim kept them in the game. Miraz hit two sixes and a four in one over off national pacer Nahid Rana, scoring 39 off 24 balls before departing.

Interestingly, Rangpur have been consistently fielding Nahid Rana for all seven matches, which may explain why the young pacer struggled today, conceding 37 runs in just 3 overs without taking a wicket. Speaking earlier at Sylhet International Stadium, legendary West Indian fast bowler and commentator Curtly Ambrose commented on Rana's workload:
"I am a little concerned about how much cricket he's playing. He's young and still developing. It's probably not wise to push him this hard, as his body isn't fully prepared yet."

Despite Miraz's dismissal, Naim (58 off 41 balls) and Afif Hossain (29 off 15 balls) kept Khulna in the hunt. Even after Afif fell in the 18th over, leaving the team on 165 for 4, Mahidul carried the chase forward. However, his injury—and the subsequent dismissal—marked the turning point for Khulna's innings.

Earlier, it was a 115-run partnership in just 9.2 overs between Pakistan duo Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah that propelled Rangpur to 186. Rangpur were struggling at 75 for 3 after 11 overs, but Khushdil and Iftikhar took charge.

Khushdil smashed six sixes and four fours to remain unbeaten on 73 off just 35 deliveries, including an extraordinary over where he struck Nasum Ahmed for four consecutive sixes. Iftikhar contributed a steady 43 off 36 balls, hitting five boundaries, before being trapped LBW by Hasan Mahmud in the final over.

Ultimately, it was Rangpur's late flourish and Khulna's collapse at the death that made the difference.