Chattogram Challengers will host the table-topping Rangpur Riders in a vital encounter on Friday as they strongly remain in the race, at least to play in the playoff phase of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League Cricket (BPL).
If Rangpur Riders win today’s (Friday) match against the hosts, their playoff place will be confirmed, but if the Challengers suffer defeat in, they will have another chance to play in the playoff phase but will have to win both of their remaining outings.
The all-important match will take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram, at 7 p.m., fin the day’s second encounter following the first match Khulna Tigers and Duranto Dhaka will lock horns at the same venue at 2 p.m. Rangpur Riders started the campaign with a bit of ups and downs after suffering defeat to Fortune Barishal in the first match and winning in the second match against Sylhet Strikers, but again suffered defeat in the third match to Khulna Tigers.
But Riders made a strong bounce back in the fourth match by defeating Duranto Dhaka and did not look back, as they celebrated five victories in a row to grab the top position with 14 points from nine encounters with two defeats and seven wins.
After nine matches, the hosts, Chattogram Challengers, are in fourth place with 10 points, with four wins and five defeats, but they also remain on track to move into the playoff phase.
Meanwhile, three top-positioned teams, Rangpur Riders, Comilla Victorians, and Fortune Barishal, were unbeaten in the fourth week of the BPL when they won all three matches.
But Rangpur and Comilla have earned as many as 14 points from nine matches; the formers are on top, and the latter defending champions, the Victorians, are behind on net run-rate.
Meanwhile, in the fourth round, Sylhet Strikers could win one match when Chattogram Challengers, Duranato Dhaka, and Khulna Tigers lost all their matches.
Among the teams of the day’s first match, the Khulna Tigers still had a chance to move into the knockout stage as they collected eight matches, but in this situation, they will have to win at least two of their three matches.
But for Duranto Dhaka, there is no chance left to qualify for the Playoff, as they are out of the running for the knockout phase after suffering nine defeats and managing one win out of their 10 outings.