Defending champions Rangpur Riders began their Global Super League (GSL) campaign on the perfect note as they defeated Guyana Amazon Warriors by eight runs at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Friday.
Khaled Ahmed picked two wickets in his last over to bring back Riders back into the game as they shot down Warriors for 154 runs after posting 162 for five.
Khaled picked four wickets while Omarzai and Tabriz Shamsi grabbed two wickets apiece to help the champions began their campaign on the right note.
Earlier, Riders posted 162 runs on the back of Soumya Sarkar (35), Kyle Mayers (44), and Iftikhar Ahmed (34).
Riders captain Nurul Hasan won the toss and elected to bat first, his side putting on a solid batting display. The Warriors star studded spin attack consisting of Imran Tahir, Gudakesh Motie and Moeen Ali were well negotiated by the Riders on a decent batting wicket, Motie and Tahir picking up a brace of wickets each with seamer Shamar Springer pocketing the only other wicket to fall.
The Warriors boast a strong batting card and they were always in the chase, Johnson Charles setting a solid foundation at the top of the order with 40 off 28 balls and Moeen striking some sumptuous boundaries to make 27 off 18.
With six players getting to double figures and making starts without playing a match defining performance, the Warriors were eventually bowled out in 19.1 overs to finish on 154.
Thirty-two year old Bangladeshi medium pacer Khaled Ahmed scooped the Player of the Match award by picking up 4/36 in his four overs of accurate pace, the 19th over proving the decisive one as Guyana needed 20 runs off the final 12 deliveries, Ahmed was sent for a soaring six by Dwaine Pretorius but then immediately struck back with two wickets in as many balls to get rid Pretorius and Shamar Springer bowled and lbw respectively.
It was a decisive contribution from the seamer and took his side to the brink of victory. With the Warriors needing 9 from the final over Azmatulla Omarzai pulled off the coup de grace by bowling Davie Wiese to secure the win and get Rangpur Riders defence of the (GSL) title off to a strong start.
LND/SAE
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