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Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) encounter under the lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

In chase of a challenging 182 for six posted by Rangpur, Rajshahi lost three of their top-order batsmen inside nine overs. Taskin, who had Afif Hossain caught in the fourth over, was on a hat-trick when he dispatched Shoaib Malik and Liton Das in consecutive deliveries in the ninth over. He later scalped the wicket of Forhad Reza, finishing with impressive figures of four for 28. Meanwhile, Taskin’s teammate Mustafizur remained wicketless but was very economical as the left-arm pacer allowed just 16 runs from his four overs, which included a maiden.

Earlier, Opener Mohammad Naim played the aggressor’s role after Rangpur Rangers were asked to bat first. Rajshahi however suffered a minor blow in the first over when a bug flew into skipper Andre Russell’s eye and forced the big West Indian to leave the field. Russell did come back on the field later but did not bowl again.

By the time Shane Watson miscued an Afif Hossain delivery to be caught at short third man in the fourth over, Naim had already smashed four boundaries and a maximum to ensure a fine start by Rangpur. After Watson’s dismissal, Cameron Delport and Naim strung together a 54-run stand. Delport’s quickfire 17-ball 31 ended when Afif caught him off his own bowling in the 11th over after being hit for two sixes and a four in the over. However, Naim’s 47-ball 55 and another 17-ball 28 from Lewis Gregory helped Rangpur post the formidable total.