Rangpur Riders, the pride of Bangladesh, have etched their name in cricketing history by winning the inaugural Global Super League. In a dominant display, they defeated Australia's Victoria by 56 runs in the final, powered by Soumya Sarkar’s heroics with the bat and a stellar performance from their bowlers.

At Guyana's Providence Stadium, Rangpur Riders opted to bat first after winning the toss. Openers Steven Taylor and Soumya Sarkar laid a strong foundation with a partnership that left Victoria’s bowlers struggling. The duo capitalized on the powerplay, scoring 40 runs without losing a wicket in the first six overs.

Post powerplay, both openers accelerated, bringing up their fifties and setting the stage for a big total. The opening stand of 124 runs ended when Taylor fell for a well-made 68 off 49 balls. Despite losing his partner, Soumya continued to dominate, smashing boundaries and keeping the momentum alive.

While other batters struggled to settle, Soumya held the innings together. Saif Hassan contributed a quick 10 off 4 balls, and Wayne Madsen added another 10 off 9. By the end of 20 overs, Rangpur Riders posted a challenging total of 178/3.

Victoria’s bowlers struggled, with Dominic Drakes, Max Birthisel, and Karima Gore each taking one wicket.

In response, Victoria started positively, scoring 54 runs in the powerplay while losing just one wicket. However, Rangpur’s bowlers turned the game around after the powerplay, striking at regular intervals. Joe Clarke, who scored a brisk 40 off 22 balls, was dismissed at 83, triggering a collapse.

Victoria’s middle-order faltered under pressure, losing three more wickets during the middle-overs. Rangpur’s bowlers maintained their grip on the game, systematically dismantling the opposition. Victoria’s innings crumbled, and they were bundled out well short of the target, sealing Rangpur’s emphatic 56-run victory. Harmeet Singh was the pick of the bowler with 3 wickets while Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan and Saif Hassan took 2 wickets each. 

This victory marks a significant achievement for Rangpur Riders and Bangladesh cricket, showcasing the talent and resilience of the nation's players on a global stage. Soumya Sarkar’s all-round brilliance and the collective efforts of the team underline the promise of Bangladesh cricket.