Rana does ‘what matters most’

Following a string of underwhelming outings early in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20, Rangpur Riders fast bowler Nahid Rana finally found his rhythm, producing a match-winning performance against Dhaka Capitals in Mirpur on Saturday.

The spell not only brought personal relief for the young pace sensation but also sealed Rangpur’s place in the playoffs.

“Obviously, losing three matches in a row can affect the team mentally,” Rana said after the match. “But we still had confidence and took that onto the field.”

The six-foot-five right-armer ripped through Dhaka’s middle order at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, returning figures of three for 11 from four overs as Rangpur clinched an 11-run victory.

Among his scalps, Saif Hassan’s dismissal stood out. First ball, Nahid produced a dream delivery, bringing it back in sharply to outplay the batter completely and uproot the stumps, leaving Saif stranded on 12.

He then removed Sabbir Rahman (eight) and Mohammad Mithun (25) to reduce Dhaka to 99 for six while chasing 182, a collapse that virtually sealed the contest. Rana bowled 14 dot balls, conceded no boundaries, and, crucially, maintained his pace throughout while mixing in effective variations.

“I don’t really think too much about pace, because it’s something that is partly God-gifted,” he said, adding that speed without skills is a recipe for disaster.

“At the international level, pace does matter. But as cricket keeps evolving, if you don’t develop your skills along with pace, you won’t survive for long. So I’m trying to improve my skills even more.”

The 23-year-old had hinted at a return to form in Rangpur’s previous Sylhet-phase match with figures of two for 18 in three overs. Before that, he had taken just two wickets in his first four matches, struggling for consistency despite being economical at times.

“Whether I play for Bangladesh or any franchise, contributing to match-winning performances is what matters most to me.”