Mustafizur's three-run last over helps Rajshahi defend 135
Rajshahi Kings 135 for 8 (Zakir 42*, Farhad 2-17) beat Rangpur Riders 130 for 6 (Rossouw 44*, Rabbi 2-22) by five runs
How the game played out
Mustafizur Rahman's superb death-overs bowling hauled Rajshahi Kings to an unlikely five-run win over Rangpur Riders, who had seemed to be cruising until the 19th over of their 136-run chase. Mustafizur tied down Farhad Reza for three balls, before Rilee Rossouw scampered through for a bye off the fifth ball.
Rossouw, however, couldn't force the game into a Super Over, as Mustafizur delivered a superb full ball that was squirted into the in-field for a single. Rossouw was unbeaten on 44 off 46 balls with three fours.
Earlier, the faltering Kings were boosted by a 54-run fourth-wicket stand between Mohammad Hafeez and Zakir Hasan, who top-scored with an unbeaten 36-ball 42, that kept the Kings on track till the 14th over. But they lost their way thereafter, making only 39 runs in the last five.
Turning points
Mashrafe slowing the Kings down by removing Soumya Sarkar in the sixth over, caught at long-on. Soumya had made an aggressive start, hitting two fours and a six in his 13-ball 18.
Ravi Bopara's direct hit that ran out Mohammad Hafeez in the 14th over, after he and Zakir had helped the Kings recover with a 54-run stand following the three early wickets.
Mustafizur Rahman conceding only three runs in the last over, when Riders needed nine. He bowled three dot balls to Farhad Reza who, despite having a set Rossouw at the other end, kept swinging and missing.
Star of the day
Mustafizur kept his reputation as one of the best slog-over bowlers in the world, conceding just seven runs in two overs when the Kings needed to defend 22 runs off the last three overs.
The big miss
Rossouw would rue taking a single off the first ball of the last over, as Reza spent the next three swinging and missing.
Where the teams stand
The defending champions Riders have lost their third game in five outings, while Rajshahi have picked up their second win in four games.
