South African batsman Rilee Rossouw struck a brisk half-century as the Rangpur Riders beat the Khulna Titans by eight runs in the Bangladesh Premier League on Sunday.

Rossouw’s entertaining 76 not out, which spanned 52 deliveries and featured eight fours and two sixes, powered the Riders to a final total of 169 for three at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.

His innings was particularly important in the absence of countryman AB de Villiers and West Indian Chris Gayle, whose tournament arrivals have been delayed.

Proteas all-rounder Robbie Frylinck relished a Player of the Match Performance on Saturday when the Chittagong Vikings outdid the Riders at the same venue.

Frylinck clinched telling figures of four for 12 and then struck an unbeaten dozen as the Vikings reached a modest 99-run target with five deliveries to spare.

‘It is never easy. I was just fortunate to land the ball in the right place and it did [for] a bit. Our bowling unit bowled really nicely. I was fortunate to get the wickets. Anyone could have got the Man of the Match,’ said Frylinck.

‘It seamed around a bit with the new ball. Then later on, the spinners bowled really nicely as well. The ball gripped. It got a bit slower when we batted, so it was quite tough to score freely. We just needed a good partnership somewhere.’

Other South Africans, including batsmen Christiaan Jonker and Cameron Delport, and bowlers Imran Tahir and Andrew Birch, are part of the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League.

Photo: Gallo