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In the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024, Rangpur Riders defeated Sylhet Strikers thanks in significant part to a brilliant performance by former Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
There was much excitement when, at the toss, Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan declared with confidence that Babar would be playing in the starting XI, saying, "Obviously King Babar is in for the match."
Having been asked to bat first, the Sylhet Strikers were able to muster only 120 runs after losing eight wickets in the opening session.
A particularly memorable instance happened when Babar Azam, who was positioned at the boundary, ran in, got the ball, and hit Dushan Hemantha straight to end the last over.
When Babar Azam onto the field, the stadium's energy increased as he was met with a loud cheer from passionate cricket fans.
The audience's yells of "Babar Babar" demonstrated how much they admired the sensational cricket player.
Watch Full Highlights:
Rider Babar @babarazam258 not only showcased his impeccable skills with a direct hit to claim a wicket but also orchestrated a winning innings with an unbeaten 5️⃣6️⃣ runs off 49 balls. Rangpur Riders' new maestro has officially arrived‼️👊🏽#Joyerlorai #rangpurriders #BPL24 pic.twitter.com/2agMX091y9
— Rangpur Riders (@RangpurRider) January 23, 2024
Rangpur Riders had a difficult situation when they started their chase after losing six wickets at 39.
After reaching the mark in 18.2 overs, Babar and Azmatullah Omarzai put up a match-winning partnership of 89 runs, which ultimately helped Rangpur Riders win a closely contested match by 4 wickets. Their good batting combined with their solid combination produced an exciting outcome.
With a brilliant 56 runs from 49 deliveries, including six boundaries, and a remarkable average of 114.28, Babar Azam played a crucial part and remained unbeaten.