Rangpur Riders vs Rajshahi Kings, Bangladesh Premier League 2019, Today Match Prediction 29 Jan 2019

rgr vs rajk Match Prediction & Analysis

Bangladesh Premier League action gets more and more exciting as we enter the last phase of the league games. The top five teams are just separated by two points and six teams still in contention for playoffs.

Rangpur Riders have peaked at right time by winning four matches in a row and sit at the top of the table with positive NRR. They chased down 180+ totals thrice in last four matches and posted a total of 239 runs in the other match. They have a envious top four of AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Alex hales and Rilee Rossouw with three of them scoring centuries. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has been leading the pack from front with his supreme bowling form. He has ably supported by pace duo of Farhad Reza and Shafiul Islam. All three of them are among the top five wicket takers this season. Nahidul Islam and Nazmul Islam share the spin bowling duties. Rangpur Riders look like a dream team with their recent performances. 

Rajshahi Kings won their last match against Chittagong Vikings by 7 runs defending a score of 198 runs. They will be pleased with their batting efforts from all the batsmen. Laurie Evans has been the consistent performer for them with the bat. Jonathan Charles made an impressive debut last match with fifty. Christiaan Jonker and Ryan Ten doeschate provided the finishing flourish scoring runs at a rapid pace. Arafat Sunny has been the highest wicket taker for their team. Mustafizur Rahman and Kamral Islam combine together to form the pace bowling attack. Skipper Mehdi Hasan has been the lone frontline spinner used to control the run flow in middle overs. Their fifth bowling option of Soumya Sarkar and Ten doeschate had a combined figure of 4-0-55-0 is a big concern for them. They don’t  want them to bowling to the likes of Rangpur Riders top order.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Rangpur Riders Preview

Key Players:

AB de Villiers – After a quite start to tournament, AB just showcased his class with 100 of 50 balls last match. AB`s form will be big positive for the team and once he gets going there is no one who can stop him.  

Farhad Reza – Reza has been bowling beautifully and is eminent from his recent match figures of 2/32, 2/29 & 4/32  in last three matches. He has been building up the momentum to the team`s bowling.

Stats from the league:

Rilee Rossouw  - 455 runs at a Strike rate of 155 (HS- 100*, 100s-1, 50s-4)

Mashrafe Mortaza - 17 wickets at an economy of 6.9 RPO (BB- 4/11)

Rangpur Riders Predicted Playing XI:

Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Rilee Rossouw, AB de Villiers, Mohammad Mithun (wk), Nahidul Islam, Farhad Reza, Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Nazmul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Shahidul Islam.

They won’t change their playing XI, which has been winning matches in a row for them. 

Rangpur Riders Actual Playing XI:

Alex Hales, RR Rossouw, Shahidul Islam, Nahidul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazmul Islam, Shafiul Islam, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Mohammad Mithun, Farhad Reza

Rajshahi Kings Preview

Key Players:

Christian Jonker – Jonker`s ability to hit huge sixes and boundaries can tilt the match in their favour. It was evident in last match when he scored 37 runs of 17 balls in a close encounter.  

Mustafizur Rahman – Mustafizur is slowly gaining form and momentum as the tournam,ent progresses. He was the MoM last match for his impressive bowling performance in batting favorable conditions. 

Stats from the league:

Laurie Evans - 228 runs at a Strike rate of 128 (HS- 104*, 100s-1, 50s-1)

 Arafat Sunny - 14 wickets at an economy of 6.9 RPO (BB- 3/8)

Rajshahi Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Mehdi Hasan (C), Johnson Charles (Wk), Ryan Ten Doeschate, Christian Jonker, Laurie Evans, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, Fazle Mahmud, Kamrul Islam, Arafat Sunny, Qais Ahmed.

Leggie Qais Ahmed may replace Mominul Haque to accommodate an additional bowler. No other changes are expected in the playing XI.

Rajshahi Kings Actual Playing XI:

Fazle Mahmud, Soumya Sarkar, Kamrul Islam, J Charles, Christiaan Jonker, Laurie Evans, Mominul Haque, A Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Qais Ahmad

Weather Conditions

Chattogram pitch is a batting friendly pitch where high scores are expected. And with the shorter boundaries and quick outfield, we may be in for a run feast. The score in the range of 180-200 runs is considered as a par score here. The 230-run mark has been breached twice this season at Chattogram. 

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first have won five out of the six matches played here so far. The lowest score by team batting first this season has been 180 runs. Rangpur Riders are the only team to win here chasing and they posted a score of 239 runs while batting first here.