Ripon's four-for sets up Rajshahi’s six-wicket win over Noakhali

Pacer Ripon Mondol starred with a four-wicket haul as Rajshahi Warriors registered a comfortable six-wicket victory over Noakhali Express in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Ripon returned excellent figures of 4-13, narrowly missing out on a five-wicket haul after teammate Hussain Talat dropped a catch, as Rajshahi restricted Noakhali to 124 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.

Invited to bat after Rajshahi skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss, Noakhali struggled to build momentum despite flashes of an aggressive start. Habibur Rahman Sohan departed for five, while Sabbir Hossain managed only six. Opener Maaz Sadaqat top-scored among the top order batters with 25 off 19 balls.

Mahidul Islam Ankon and captain Haider Ali attempted to steady the innings with a subdued approach but neither could convert their starts. Ankon scored 22 but chewed up 27 balls, while Haider struck the team's highest score of 33 off 28 deliveries. The rest of the batting lineup offered little, with only Mehedi Hasan Rana reaching double figures with 11. It was another dismal outing for national team regular Jaker Ali (6), and Rezaur Rahman Raja (1) and Hasan Mahmud (0) fell cheaply as Noakhali limped to a below-par total.

Apart from Ripon's four wickets, Tanzim Hasan Sakib picked up two, while Binura Fernando and Talat claimed one apiece.

Rajshahi's chase got off to a shaky start as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed in the very first over. However, a decisive 65-run stand for the second wicket between Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shanto quickly swung the contest in Rajshahi's favour. Tanzid struck 29 off 20 balls, while Shanto added 24 off 20.

Hussain Talat fell for just three (off nine balls) but Rajshahi lost no further wickets as Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali Rabby calmly guided the side home. Mushfiqur remained unbeaten on 28 off 30 balls, while Yasir finished on 23 not out off 26, sealing the win with 13 balls to spare.

Noakhali surprised everyone by stripping Shykat Ali of the captaincy and dropping him from the playing eleven after he scored 24 and four in the first two matches, both of which his side lost. Haider Ali was handed the captaincy instead. 

The victory marked Rajshahi's second consecutive win after losing their opening match and lifted them to the top of the points table with four points from three games. Noakhali, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom after suffering a third straight defeat, yet to open their points account. The remaining four teams are tied on two points each.