King, Mayers shine but Russell struggles in defeat
– Brandon King got one over on West Indies teammate Kyle Mayers when Rangpur Riders defeated Fortune Barishal by one wicket in the Bangladesh Premier League yesterday.
The right-handed King struck 45 off 22 balls as Riders chased down a target of 152 to win with three wickets to spare at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Left-hander Mayers had earlier top-scored with 46 off 27 deliveries as Barishal gathered 151 for nine off their 20 overs, after they chose to bat.
Entering at number three, Mayers clobbered four fours and three sixes, dominating a 72-run, second wicket partnership with Tom Banton who struck 26 from 24 balls.
However, Mayers was one of seven wickets to tumble for 19 runs off 34 deliveries as 28-year-old fast bowler Abu Hider ripped through the innings with five for 12 from four overs. In reply, Mominul Haque perished without scoring in the third over but King helped repair the damage by hitting three fours and four sixes in a 53-run, second wicket partnership with Shakib Al Hasan who belted a 15-ball 29.
King perished in a slump that saw four wickets go down for just 13 runs but New Zealander James Neesham lashed an important 17-ball 28 at number seven, to keep Riders on course for the win.
West Indies left-arm seamer Obed McCoy was outstanding with three for 34 while Mayers picked up two for 31 with his medium pace after being given the new ball.
In the other game played, superstar Andre Russell had little impact as his Comilla Victorians slipped to a 12-run defeat at the hands of Jamaican Kennar Lewis’s Sylhet Strikers.
Lewis blasted 33 off 25 balls with two fours and two sixes at the top of the order as Strikers tallied 177 for five off their 20 overs, Benny Howell top-scoring with a 31-ball unbeaten 62.