Desk Report:
Chittagong is flying high in the National Cricket League (NCL) T20. The port city team has seen a hat-trick victory. They defeated Barisal by 8 wickets in the first match of the day today. Khulna had to sweat on the day of Chittagong’s big win. Mohammad Mithun’s team defeated Rangpur by 3 runs.
Chittagong reached the target of 129 runs set by Barisal with 21 balls in hand at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the hero of their victory by playing an innings of 78 runs off 48 balls. This opener hit 6 fours and 5 sixes while batting at a strike rate of 162.50. His partner Saikat Ali remained unbeaten on 23 runs off 28 balls. Besides, Mominul Haque Sourav played a short stormy innings of 22 runs off 11 balls.
Earlier, the bowlers created the fear of Chittagong’s victory. Barisal was bowled out for 128 runs in the stipulated 20 overs under the control of Mehedi Hasan Rana, Mohammad Rubel and Hasan Murad. Iftikhar Hossain Ifti scored 33 runs off 26 balls for the team. Fazle Mahmud Rabbi scored 26 runs off 29 balls. Sohag Gazi played an innings of 18 runs off 14 balls. Runner had the best day among the Chittagong bowlers. This left-arm pacer took 4 wickets for 22 runs. Murad removed 2 batters for 10 runs. Rubel took one wicket for 18 runs.
Khulna batted first in the second match of the day at the same venue and scored 149 runs. Ziaur Rahman scored 36 runs off 16 balls with the help of four sixes. Enamul Haque Bijoy scored 35, Mithun scored 25 and Nahidul Islam scored 20 runs. In reply, Rangpur were bowled out for 146 runs despite Tanvir Haider’s fifty. Tanvir remained unbeaten on 60 runs off 47 balls. Anik Sarkar contributed 28 runs. Akbar Ali scored 19 runs. Rabiul Haque took 3 wickets for 32 runs for Khulna.
