Rajshahi climb to fourth amidst players' payment issue

Durbar Rajshahi battled through their players' payment issue to clinch the match against Sylhet Strikers at by 65 runs the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.

In defence of 184 for 7, Rajshahi mounted an impressive effort on the field, especially from skipper Anamul Haque Bijoy.

Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Haque struck in consecutive overs to see the back of openers Rony Talukdar and Paul Sterling.

Zakir Hasan (39 off 28) and Geroge Munsey (20 off 22) put on a 58-run stand before Bijoy completed a brilliant catch, running in from short third-man and diving forward to hold on to Zakir's catch. Sunzamul then picked up his third, removing Aaron Jones before Mrittunjoy Chowdhury followed up with two wickets to leave Sylhet reeling at 101 for seven.

Jaker Ali tried to make a game out of it with late blows during a 20-ball 31 before Bijoy took another good catch to help bowl Sylhet out for 119.

The 65-run run win helped Rajshahi leapfrog Khulna Tigers to fourth position on the table, keeping their hands firmly on qualifying for the playoffs with three more matches left.

Earlier, Sylhet's Nahidul Islam picked up both Rajshahi openers Mohammad Haris (19) and Jishan Alam (20) before Anamul Haque and Ryan Burl steadied the ship with a quickfire 35-run stand from 15 deliveries.

Anamul struck a 22-ball 32 before falling to Ruyel Miah but Burl and Yasir Ali kept the score ticking with a 38-run stand off 26 deliveries.  Yasir contributed 19 off 10 before he and Burl (41 off 27) departed to Nihaduzzaman. Akbar Ali's 14 off 15 saw Rajshahi reach 184 for 7.