Desk Report:
The National Cricket League (NCL) T20 has been launched alongside the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to create ‘backup’ cricketers in T20. The second edition of the tournament, which was suspended due to adverse weather conditions, resumed in Sylhet today.
Rajshahi opener Habibur Rahman Sohan has made a new mark in the new season. He played a devastating innings of 94 runs in 44 balls, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes, attacking Khulna bowlers. He hit a six with a slug sweep at square leg while kneeling. He also stood on the back foot and scattered the opposing bowlers with sixes and fours over mid-on and cover.
Khulna bowlers were at a loss from the start in front of Sohan’s batting onslaught. Chasing a target of 172 runs, Rajshahi scored 148 runs in the opening partnership. Sohan’s partner Nazmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 65 runs in 39 balls. Rajshahi defeated Khulna by 8 wickets.
Earlier, Khulna lost the toss and elected to bat, scoring 171 runs in 20 overs. They lost 3 wickets in the first three overs. Nihad Uz Zaman returned Imran Uz Zaman in the first over. Later, Nihad Uz Zaman took the wicket of Khulna captain Mohammad Mithun. Meherab Hossain dismissed Enamul Haque Bijoy in the middle. The team, which lost 3 wickets for 13 runs, turned around with the batting of Soumya Sarkar and Afif Hossain. Soumya and Afif put together a partnership of 130 runs in 72 balls. Soumya scored 63 runs in 34 balls before being dismissed by Shantar. Afif scored 50 runs in 45 balls. Then, Mehedi Hasan Miraj and Ziaur Rahman failed to bat. Nahidul Islam scored 17 runs in 11 balls, and the team finally crossed 170.
The target of 172 runs on a batting-friendly wicket did not seem like a target for Rajshahi’s batting. They scored 72 runs in the power play. The team crossed the century mark in the ninth over. Sohan scored a fifty off 22 balls. His only fifty in T20Is before that was 66 runs. Even after crossing that, he came close to his first century today. But Sohan’s innings came to a halt at 94 runs with regret of touching three figures. Later, Sabbir Hossain, who was out for three, left the field with a calm team.
Dhaka won the other match of the day in NCL in Sylhet. Batting first after losing the toss against Rangpur, Dhaka scored 171 runs for 3 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, Rangpur was stopped for 9 wickets for 100 runs. Mosaddek Hossain Saikat was named the man of the match in Dhaka’s 71-run victory. He remained unbeaten after playing an innings of 64 runs off 32 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes.
