NCL TIER 1: Nasir’s Rangpur face defeat as Khulna clinch victory against Sylhet

|| CF DESK ||

Khulna Division registered their first victory of Tier 1 in the Bangabandhu National Cricket League (NCL) against Sylhet Division by 8 wickets. On the other hand, Rangpur Division were defeated by Dhaka Division by 80 runs.

Dhaka Division Vs Rangpur Division

Dhaka beat Rangpur by 80 runs in the first tier of the National League at BKSP ground number four. Rangpur needed 229 runs on the last day to win the match, chasing 264 runs with eight wickets in hand. In the end they were reduced to 183 runs.

Apu took 5 wickets alone to crush the opponent today. He bagged 6 wickets off 64 runs including one wicket of the previous day. His previous best was 5 for 21.

This is the first time he has taken 10 wickets in a first-class career. He took 4 wickets in the first innings.

Rangpur did not start the day well. Playing with 35 runs for 2 wickets, the team quickly lost the previous two unbeaten batsmen Mahmudul Hasan and Suhrawadi Shuvo. Apu returned both of them.

Naeem Islam kept one end running. But Nasir Hossain, who scored a century in the first innings, could not do anything this time. He was caught behind by Saif Hasan for 16 runs. Ariful Haque could not take the helm of the team.

Captains Akbar Ali and Naeem resisted for a while but their pairing was not very big either. Apu broke the 46-run partnership by lbw Akbar (28). Completed first-class cricket with his fifth 5-for.

Naeem touched fifty off 165 balls. After that he could not make the innings bigger. Four fours in his 61-run innings. Rishad Hossain was caught in the third slip after hitting Apu a six as Rangpur's innings ended.

Khulna Division Vs Sylhet Division

Defending champions Khulna Division have won the first round of the Bangabandhu NCL as Khulna defeated Sylhet Division by 8 wickets at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Thursday.

On the last day, Nurul Hasan Sohan's team won by losing 2 wickets, chasing 68 runs. Despite the resistance of Zakir Hossain, Sylhet Division was able to score 308 runs in the second innings. Earlier, Sylhet scored 134 runs in reply to Khulna's 375 runs. They batted well in the second innings after the follow-on but could not avoid defeat.

Zakir was unbeaten on 118 runs the day before. Today 22 more runs come from his bat. Although he scored a maximum of 140 runs for the team, it was not enough to save the match. His innings was arranged in 15 fours from 233 balls.

Abdul Halim is the best bowler of the second innings for Khulna. He took 4 wickets for 62 runs. Moinul Islam Sohel took 3 wickets.

Zakir Hasan of Sylhet Division was selected Man of the Match for his impeccable century.