Former Proteas batsman Rilee Rossouw consolidated a commanding lead among the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League’s leading run-scorers on Sunday.

Rossouw struck a patient 44 not out from 45 deliveries, which featured just three fours, but the Rangpur Riders were unable to surpass a challenging 136-run target at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.

The Rajshahi Kings, who are coached by ex-Proteas all-rounder Lance Klusener, won by five runs.

Rossouw has struck 230 runs in five innings at this year’s BPL, including two half-centuries against the Dhaka Dynamites and Khulna Titans, while West Indies and Sylhet Sixers batsman Nicholas Pooran is in second place after 165 in three.

South African all-rounder Robbie Frylinck, meanwhile, clinched a key wicket and played a brief cameo with the bat as the Chittagong Vikings overcame the Comilla Victorians at the same venue.

Frylinck removed the dangerous Tamim Iqbal for a duck – and later hit nine not out from five deliveries.

The veteran right-armer is currently the 2019 competition’s joint-second wicket-taker, with nine in four matches.

Rossouw and Frylinck played for the Tshwane Spartans in the inaugural edition of the Mzansi Super League in South Africa late last year.

The tournament includes other South Africans, including batsmen Cameron Delport and AB de Villiers, all-rounder David Wiese and leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

Tuesday will see the Titans play the Kings – and the Vikings the Sixers.

The unbeaten Dynamites are currently at the top of the seven-team standings. The winless Titans are in last position.

Photo: Gallo