Rangpur Riders have dominated the 2024-25 BPL season so far, winning all five of their matches. They now lead the points table by four points, marking an impressive start to their campaign. Their victories include two wins each against new franchise Dhaka Capital and Sylhet Strikers, but their standout performance came against defending champions Fortune Barishal. Fresh off a Global Super League title win, Rangpur have already sent a strong message to their opponents.
Fortune Barishal, considered one of the favorites, faced a major setback with their defeat to Rangpur. However, they have secured three wins, defeating Sylhet once and Durbar Rajshahi twice. Meanwhile, Sylhet and Dhaka remain winless, with Sylhet losing three games and Dhaka losing four.
Top Batters: Three Centuries in the First Week
Chittagong Kings’ Usman Khan scored the season’s first century, smashing 123 off 62 balls against Rajshahi. Thisara Perera followed with an unbeaten 103 off 60 balls for Dhaka, though it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat against Khulna. Rangpur’s Alex Hales struck a sensational 113* off 56 balls, leading his team to a successful chase of 206 against Sylhet. His 186-run stand with Saif Hassan, who has two fifties in three innings, was a season highlight.
Top Bowler: Taskin Ahmed’s Record Haul
Rajshahi’s Taskin Ahmed grabbed 7 for 19 against Dhaka, the first seven-wicket haul in a major franchise league. He tops the wicket charts with 12 in four games. Rangpur’s Nahid Rana and Mahedi Hasan, along with Khulna’s Abu Hider, have also taken four-wicket hauls.
Unusual Events and Young Talents
Tom O’Connell was recalled after a controversial timed-out dismissal. Perera’s century from No. 6 was a rare feat in the BPL, and Lahiru Samarakoon bowled the season’s most expensive spell (0 for 64). Promising youngsters like Jishan Alam, Jahandad Khan, and Iqbal Hossain have shown glimpses of talent early in the season.
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