BPL 2024: Shamim’s Explosive 50 off 20 Balls Drives Rangpur to a Strong Total

Shamim Hossain’s rapid half-century off just 20 deliveries propelled Rangpur Riders to a formidable total in a situation that appeared unlikely only two overs earlier.

Shamim’s aggressive innings guided the Riders to a score of 149 for seven in their allotted 20 overs against Fortune Barishal during the second qualifier of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) held on Wednesday.

The victor of this match will progress to the final on March 1 to face the Cumilla Victorians.

Initially, Rangpur faced difficulties, managing only 112 runs with three wickets remaining after 18 overs. However, Shamim’s explosive performance in the 19th over, particularly against Obed McCoy, transformed the game. He hammered 26 runs, including three sixes and two fours, significantly boosting the Riders’ total.

While Shamim’s late onslaught stood out, the rest of Rangpur’s batting lineup struggled. The top three batsmen contributed just 11 runs collectively, with the following three adding only 43 more.

Shamim finished unbeaten on 59 runs, with James Neesham as the second-highest scorer with 28 runs.

Fortune Barishal’s bowlers performed admirably, with James Fuller claiming three wickets and Mohammad Saifuddin taking two.