Exciting day sees four results in NCL

Thursday was one of the most amazing days in National Cricket League history as the fourth and final day of the all four fourth-round matches of the tournament ended with some pulsating contests. 

The match between Sylhet and Dhaka Metropolis was the most thrilling among those as Sylhet won by three runs and their hero, paceman Khaled Ahmed, who got five wickets in each of the innings, got an instant reward as he received a call-up to the national squad.

Rangpur clinched another slender win by five runs against Barisal, Chittagong beat Dhaka by eight wickets thanks to a century by Mominul Haque while Rajshahi got an unlikely last-day victory against Khulna by the same margin. 

Sylhet v Metro, Rajshahi

Dhaka resumed the day on 28/1 in pursuit of 196 to win the tier-2 match and two overnight batsmen Shadman Islam and Shamsur Rahman cruised to 78 before Khaled dismissed the latter for 29. 

The 26-year old seamer, who got 5/85 in the first innings, also dismissed Dhaka skipper Marshall Ayub for just eight but Dhaka reached 178/5 with Shadman not out on 78. 

But experienced left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr got rid of Shadman and all of a sudden the floodgate was open. 

Khaled, the man of the match, trapped last man Arafat Sunny for one to return with 5/54, his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. 

Rangpur v Barisal, Rangpur

Teen-age paceman Robiul Haque got 4/63 to bundle out Barisal for 224 and seal a close victory. 

Resuming on 71/3, Rangpur lost overnight batsman Shamsul Islam in the second ball before being reduced to 169/8 with another overnight batsman Al-Amin the only half-centurion with 51. 

Nuruzzaman and Tanvir Islam added 55 for the ninth wicket to raise the hopes but Sanjit Saha dismissed the latter for 16 before Robiul got rid of the former for 46 to seal the cliffhanger. 

Dhaka v Chittagong, Cox's Bazar

National discard Mominul Haque scored another century and calmly navigated Chittagong to an easy eight-wicket win on the last day. 

Chittagong resumed the day on 113/2, chasing 202 runs, and two overnight batsmen Mominul, who made 111, and Tasamul Haque (89) finished the business in style. 

The pair came to the crease together on the third day at a precarious situation of 22/2 but guided the side home with an unbeaten 183-run stand. 

Rajshahi v Khulna, Khulna 

After the end of the third day Rajshahi were on 418/9 and the result was unlikely. 

But they finished on 431, taking a 122-run lead before their bowlers skittled out Khulna for just 158 in 61 overs to set a target of 37. 

Despite losing two wickets, Rajshahi reached the target with ease. 

Farhad Reza was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while Shafiul Islam and Muktar Ali got three wickets each.

20TH NCL, ROUND 4, DAY 4

TIER 1

Rangpur 147 & 229 beat Barisal 147 & 224 in 80.2 overs (Al Amin 52, Robiul 4/63) by five runs

Khulna 309 & 158 in 61 overs (Farhad 4/26, Muktar 3/13) lost to Rajshahi 431 in 155.3 overs (Sabbir 99, Sanjamul 64) & 37/2 in 4.4 overs (Jahurul 15*, Al Amin 2/17) by eight wickets

TIER 2

Dhaka 288 & 151 lost to Chittagong 238 & 205/2 in 42.4 overs (Mominul 111*, Tasamul 89*) by eight wickets

Sylhet 312 & 184 beat Dhaka Metropolis 300 & 193 in 48.2 overs (Shadman 78, Khaled 5/54) by three runs

Tier 1

Teams        M    W    L    Pts    

Rajshahi    4    1    0    22.81    

Rangpur    4    1    0    17.93    

Barisal        4    0    1    11.11    

Khulna        4    0    1    11.04    

Tier 2

Teams        M    W    L    Pts    

Dhaka Metro    4    1    1    20.59    

Chittagong    4    1    1    15.5    

Dhaka        4    1    1    15.38    

Sylhet        4    1    1    14.62