Soumya shines as Rangpur win inaugural Global Super League

Rangpur Riders, a Bangladesh Premier League franchise, emerged champions of the inaugural Global Super League -- thanks to a superb batting display from Soumya Sarkar and Steven Taylor that helped them beat Victoria by 56 runs in the final at the Providence Stadium in Guyana today. 

Soumya hit a tournament-best individual score of 54-ball 86 not out while his opening partner Taylor made 68 off 49 deliveries as Rangpur piled up 178 for three in 20 overs -- the highest team total in the tournament. 

Victoria, Australia's Big Bash outfit, got a rapid start but could not keep up the tempo as they capitulated for just 122 runs in 18.1 overs. Opener Joe Clarke scored a team-high of 22-ball 40 before falling prey to Bangladesh all-rounder Mahedi Hasan in the 11th over. Mahedi got two wickets for 20 runs in his four overs. His compatriot Rishad Hossain also got two wickets, giving away 26 runs in 3.1 overs, while Harmeet Singh stood out with the ball in hand for Rangpur with figures of three for 19 in four overs.      

After electing to bat, Rangpur openers Soumya and Taylor took their time to get going in the game, making 40 for no loss in the Powerplay. However, they made up for it very well in the middle overs as the duo stitched together a 124-run opening stand. 

Taylor was dismissed by Karima Gore in the 14th over but Soumya kept on swinging his bat till the end, hitting a total of seven boundaries and five maximums to help Rangpur to a commendable total. 

There was uncertainty over the participation of Soumya and two other players -- Afif Hossain and Rishad Hossain -- in the final. Part of Bangladesh's ODI team that will play a three-match series against the West Indies starting Sunday at St Kitts, all three players were initially granted NOCs by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) till December 5, putting Rangpur's fate in the balance. 

However, the franchise confirmed that they have been allowed to keep the three players for this final, through a social media post, just over an hour before the all-important game.

Rangpur won their last two league-stage games -- against Pakistan's Lahore Qalandars by 23 runs (DLS) and favourites Guyana Amazon Warriors by 15 runs -- to make it into the final of the five-team tournament.