Defending champion Rangpur Riders picked up their first win in this year’s BPL after beating Khulna Titans by eight runs in a tight contest.

Titans required 20 runs to win in the final over bowled by Farhad Reza, who successfully kept West Indian hard hitter Carlos Brathwaite under a tight leash.

The Khulna franchise, in the end were 8 runs short chasing 170 set by the Riders in the first innings.  

Despite a solid foundation laid by Titans’ openers with Paul Stirling’s blistering 61 runs 46 deliveries and Junaid Siddiqui’s 33 off 30, team Mahmudullah failed short of the required target.

The Riders, after losing the first game of the tournament, successfully came back in style with a solid performance.

Roussouw and Bopara’s 104 runs fourth wicket partnership contributed in putting up a big total for the Titans.

Riders came back strong in Sunday’s match after losing the opening duel against Chittagong Vikings.

Earlier Titans’ skipper Mahmudullah won the toss and chose to field first at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.