Evans-Doeschate end Sylhet’s hope

Rajshahi Kings rode on the 109-run fourth wicket partnership between Laurie Evans and Ryan ten Doeschate to successfully chase the challenging 189-run total posted by Sylhet Sixers in the ongoing sixth edition of Bangladesh Premier League -- ending Sylhet's hope to reach the last-four -- and win the game by five wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

Chasing a challenging total, Rajshahi were somewhat in a spot of bother having lost three of their top order batsmen in the first ten overs of the game. After that it was Evans and Doeschate to the rescue but could not finish the game off as both the batsmen -- Doeschate (42 runs off 18 balls) and Evans (76 runs off 36 balls) -- were dismissed in the 17 th over by Sylhet pacer Sohail Tanvir. It was however too late for Sylhet as Rajshahi chased down the total 9in 18 overs.

Batting first, Nicholas Pooran powered Sylhet to a challenging total as he took the Rajshshi bowlers by the scruff of their necks on his way to scoring quick-fire fifty. The left-handed West Indian remained unbeaten as he authored a 31-ball 76-run knock that saw six maximums and as many boundaries. Earlier in the innings, Sabbir Rahman also looked good for the Sixers but unfortunately missed out on his half-century for five runs as he fell prey to Rajshahi pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi in the 16 th over.

Scores in brief:

Sylhet Sixers: 189 for five in 20 overs (Afif 29, Sabbir 45, Pooran 76; Rabbi 2-30)

Rajshahi Kings: 190 for five in 18 overs (Charles 39, Evans 76, Doeschate 42; Tanvir 2-27)

Result: Rajshahi Kings won by five wickets.