Mahedi Hasan continued his upward trajectory from the West Indies T20I series with a four-fer in the BPL against Dhaka Capitals to guide Rangpur Riders to a 40-run win in the second fixture of the BPL's opening day at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Mahedi had hit a purple patch during the T20I series in West Indies, bagging crucial wickets during the 3-0 series sweep. This time it was Dhaka Capitals at the receiving end.

Liton Das and Tanzid Tamim had put on 58 in the Powerplay in chase of Rangpur's 191 for 6. Mahedi, who had opened the bowling, sent back Tanzid for a 21-ball 30 to break the 65-run opening stand after the left-hander managed a leading edge and was holed out at short third-man. Habibur Rahman hit Mahedi for six next ball but perished in almost similar fashion a delivery later to Mahedi.

In Mahedi's final over, the 10th of the innings, he bagged two more. Liton failed to clear the ropes and was holed out at long on, out after a 27-ball 31. Mahedi would produce a gem of a delivery to castle Farmanullah, the ball just turning enough to beat the bat and clip the off-stump. Mahedi finished with four for 27, leaving Dhaka reeling at four for 75.

Dhaka skipper Thisara Perera raged with a few big hits but once he fell to Kamrul Islam, the chase fell away as Dhaka were restricted to 151 for 9. Khushdil Shah bagged two wickets while Rakibul Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin and Kamrul Islam bagged one wicket piece. Nahid Rana shone with pace and although economical, remained wicket-less for Rangpur.

Earlier Rangpur were not off to the best of starts as Steven Taylor fell leg-before to Mustafizur Rahman after a brisk seven-ball 14 and Alauddin Babu took Alex Hales's scalp.

Saif Hassan and Iftikhar Ahmed laid out the recovery work with a 89-run stand for the third wicket. Saif, who scored 40 off 33, fell trying to accelerate in the 14th over by Babu before Iftikhar succumbed to the all-rounder in the 15th over, out after a 38-ball 49.

It was Nurul Hasan Sohan's cameo 11-ball 25, laced with a few eye-catching ramp shots that got the scoreboard ticking before Khushdil Shah launched a few big hits including two sixes off Mustafizur's last over to finish on an unbeaten 46 off 23 deliveries. Babu finished with three for 43 while pacer Mukidul Islam Mugdho bagged two for 27 for Dhaka.