DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) — West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons made an impact in his first outing of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), stroking a half-century to guide Rajshahi Kings to their maiden victory with a comfortable, eight-wicket win over Rangpur Riders here yesterday.

Chasing a modest 135 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Kings easily reached their target in the 17th over with the right-handed Simmons getting 53.

He faced 50 balls and struck four boundaries and a six, adding 122 for the first wicket with Mominul Haque, who hammered 63 not out off 44 deliveries, counting four fours and three sixes.

Simmons was one of two wickets to fall in the 16th over with victory in sight, run out by a direct throw at the non-striker’s end from Thisara Perera as he attempted a second run with Mominul.

Earlier, Windies opener Johnson Charles’ miserable run continued as Riders, opting for first knock, tallied just 134 for five from their 20 overs.

England’s Ravi Bopara top-scored with 54 not out off 51 deliveries and Shahriar Nafees chipped in with 23, but Charles perished for two — his third single-digit score in as many innings.

In the feature game of the double-header, Simmons’ West Indies and Trinidadian compatriot Evin Lewis, blasted an unbeaten 44 from just 18 balls as Dhaka Dynamites clobbered Sylhet Sixers by eight wickets.

Set a paltry 101 for victory, Dynamites raced to their target in the eighth over with the left-handed Lewis belting two fours and five sixes in a rapid 18-ball knock.

He put on a frenetic 59 off 25 balls with Pakistani star Shahid Afridi who made 37 off 17 balls, and a further 47 in an unbroken third-wicket stand with Shakib al Hasan who ended 18 not out.

Sent in, Sixers were undermined by Afridi who grabbed four for 12 and West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine who picked up three for 10.

Abul Hasan, batting at number nine, top-scored with an unbeaten 30 to be one of only three players in double figures but the only to pass 15.