Rangpur Riders extended their winning streak to three matches and confirmed a place in the final with an eight run victory over Dubai Capitals in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League at Providence Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 159 set by the Riders, the Capitals needed 28 runs from the final two overs with two wickets in hand. In the 19th over, bowled by Afghan recruit Azmatullah Omarzai, his compatriot Qais Ahmed smashed two sixes and a boundary in the first four balls, easing the equation to just nine runs required from eight deliveries.

But Omarzai kept his composure and dismissed Qais on the fifth ball of the 19th over, leaving Khaled Ahmed with nine runs to defend in the final over.

Khaled began with a dot ball and then removed Dominic Drakes (22 off 16), sealing the victory and maintaining the Riders’ perfect record.

Earlier, opting to bat first after winning the toss, Riders made one change to the starting eleven, bringing in Saif Hassan in place of Yasir Ali.

However, the start was far from ideal as opener Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed for just one in the very first over. Kyle Mayers, coming at No. 3, looked in good touch during a brief 37-run stand with Soumya Sarkar, but perished after a brisk 19 off 11 balls.

Soumya, meanwhile, provided some fireworks with four sixes in his 36-run knock off 28 deliveries but couldn’t convert it into a big innings, falling to Shakib Al Hasan while attempting a fifth maximum.

Mahidul Islam Ankon, promoted to No. 4, struggled to find rhythm and managed only 11 off 15 balls, while Azmatullah Omarzai’s rough patch with the bat continued as he added just 8 from 13 balls.

At 104 for 5 with just 5.2 overs remaining, Riders needed a strong finish—and it came in the form of Iftikhar Ahmed and captain Nurul Hasan. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 54-run partnership off just 32 deliveries to give Rangpur a fighting total.

Iftikhar remained composed, scoring 41 off 32, while Sohan finished with a late flourish, smashing 34 off just 18 balls, including two sixes and a boundary in the final over bowled by Gulbadin Naib.

While chasing, Capitals had a poor start due to the great opening spell by Kyle Mayers and Iftikhar Ahmed. Later, off spinner Saif Hassan and slow left arm bowler Rakibul Hasan joined the party by picking up three wickets and one wicket respectively.

Khaled Ahmed and Omarzai, who were brilliant in the death overs in the two previous matches, were among the wickets once again.

Rangpur Riders, with six points from the first three matches, will take on Central Stags on Thursday in the last group stage match. The final match is scheduled for 19 July at the same ground.