Rangpur Riders got a hard-earned win against Sylhet Strikers in the 7th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Pakistan star Babar Azam fought alone for Rangpur after falling into a batting disaster.

Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan won the toss and decided to field first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, known as the 'Home of Cricket'. Mohammad Mithun signaled a stormy start by hitting four, but the disaster started when he was dismissed. Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (6) was run out after batting at No. 3. Then Yasir Ali (9), Zakir Hasan (1) and opener Najmul Hossain Shanto (14 runs from 24 balls) departed one by one and Sylhet lost their way.

England's Benny Howell and Australia's Ben Cutting led the team after losing 5 wickets for 39 runs. The duo put on a 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which brought Sylhet back into the match. Cutting played an innings of 31 runs from 31 balls and Howell tried to keep the wheel of runs going till the end. Howell scored 43 runs in 36 balls before departing in the last over of the innings, hitting 4 fours and 1 six. In the end, Sylhet's collection stood at 120 runs after losing 8 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs.

Pakistan star batter Babar Azam, playing in Rangpur jersey in this match, stole the limelight early on with a brilliant run out. For Rangpur, Mahedi Hasan and Ripon Mondol took two wickets each.

Rangpur also fell into a batting disaster to respond. Coming to play BPL for the second time, Babar showed his patience on Mirpur's wicket. In the end, Babar and Azmatullah Omarzai brought the team to the port of victory by making an unbroken pair of 86 runs. Azmatullah scored 47 runs off 35 balls. Babar scored 56 runs off 49 balls. Rangpur won with 10 balls and 4 wickets in hand. Dushan Hemantha single-handedly took three wickets for Sylhet.