Desk Report:
Dhaka Metropolitan could not win against Chittagong despite scoring 185 runs yesterday. At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Chittagong chased down 186 runs and won with 19 balls in hand. Within 24 hours, Dhaka Metropolitan led by Nayeem Sheikh lost again. This time, Khulna defeated them.
Dhaka Metropolitan won against host Rajshahi by 7 wickets on September 14 in Rajshahi. Dhaka Metropolitan has won only one match in the tournament so far. Nayeem Sheikh’s team has lost two consecutive matches since then. After losing to Chittagong by 8 wickets, Dhaka Metropolitan could not even chase the target of 172 runs today. Khulna led by Soumya Sarkar and Mehedi Hasan Miraj defeated Dhaka Metropolitan by 22 runs today at the Sylhet Academy Ground.
Chasing a target of 172 runs at the Sylhet Academy Ground, Dhaka Metropolitan’s opening pair was broken for 11 runs. Khulna left-arm spinner Zayed Ullah broke the partnership by returning Mahfizul Islam to Robin on the fifth ball of the second over. Anisul Islam came in at number three to deal with this initial blow. Anisul contributed to a 59-run partnership for the second wicket with opener Naeem Sheikh. But when Anisul and Naeem were dismissed on the third and fourth balls of the ninth over, Dhaka City came under pressure. Sheikh Parvez Jibon took Anisul’s wicket. Naeem Sheikh was run out in this over of Jibon. Naeem scored 33 runs with 5 fours off 23 balls.
With the departure of Anisul and Naeem, Dhaka City’s score fell to 70 runs for 3 wickets in 8.4 overs. Then, Sadman Islam and Shamsur Rahman Shuvo put on a 33-run partnership for the fourth wicket. But after Sadman returned, Dhaka City’s innings collapsed like a house of cards. Naeem Sheikh’s team was bowled out for 149 runs in 19.1 overs after losing 7 wickets for 46 runs. Enamul Haque Bijoy was named the man of the match in Khulna’s 22-run win. He scored 49 runs off 26 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Sheikh Parvez Jibon was Khulna’s best bowler in the match. He took 3 wickets for 22 runs in 3.1 overs.
Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan captain Naeem Sheikh won the toss and decided to field. Batting first, Khulna scored 171 runs for 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Bijoy’s batting made the highest innings of 49 runs. Abu Haider Rony of Dhaka Metropolitan took 2 wickets.
In the other match of the day, NCL won easily. Sylhet, who batted first after winning the toss, scored 134 runs for 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, Dhaka scored 135 runs for 1 wicket in 17 overs. Ashiqur Rahman Shibli was named the man of the match for the 9-wicket win with 3 overs in hand. He scored 60 runs with 6 fours and 3 sixes in 39 balls.
