Rangpur Riders have held their nerve to clinch a thrilling eight-run victory against Shakib Al Hasan's Dubai Capitals on Wednesday, thereby confirming their place in the final of the Global Super League (GSL). This win sees Rangpur maintain their unbeaten record, having now won all three of their matches, while Dubai Capitals are eliminated from the tournament after suffering their third consecutive defeat.
The match provided a nail-biting finish. Chasing a target of 158, Dubai Capitals required 28 runs from the final 12 deliveries. Spinner Qais Ahmed ignited a glimmer of hope for his side, smashing 18 runs – including a wide – off the first four balls bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai. However, Omarzai had the last laugh, dismissing Qais on the fifth ball, caught by Ibrahim Zadran, a crucial breakthrough. With just one wicket remaining, Dubai's hopes rested on Dominic Drakes, but he too fell to the hands of Zadran off Khaled Ahmed in the very next over, allowing Rangpur to wrap up the win with two balls to spare.
Earlier in the innings, Rangpur Riders posted a competitive total of 158 for 5. Contributions came from Soumya Sarkar (36 off 28 balls), Iftikhar Ahmed (41 not out), and Nurul Hasan (34 not out). The unbeaten duo of Iftikhar and Nurul added a crucial 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket, providing the late impetus the innings required. Soumya Sarkar had earlier showcased his power, hitting four sixes before being dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan, who returned economical figures of 1 for 16 from his four overs.
Dubai's chase got off to a rocky start, losing two wickets inside the first two overs, putting them immediately under pressure. Shakib Al Hasan, who had previously anchored the innings in their opening win over Central Districts, could only manage 3 runs before being stumped off Saif Hassan, a significant blow to their chase.
Despite Qais Ahmed's late heroics, Dubai ultimately fell short. Rangpur, conversely, have advanced to the final with one group stage game still in hand. Even if they were to lose their final group match against Central Districts, Rangpur's six points from three games secure their place in the final, courtesy of a superior head-to-head record over Guyana Amazon Warriors, currently the only team that can theoretically match their points tally.
