In an exciting showdown, Dhaka Metro triumphed over Khulna with a solid 38-run victory in the crucial second qualifier of the National Cricket League (NCL) T20! This win means Dhaka Metro is all set to take on Rangpur in the tournament’s very first final on Tuesday, December 24. Rangpur secured their spot by beating Dhaka Metro in the earlier qualifier, so it promises to be a thrilling match!
Batting first, Dhaka Metro managed to put up a total of 119 runs, thanks to their captain Naim Sheikh, who led the charge with a fantastic performance, scoring 57 runs off 53 balls, complete with six boundaries and a six. Shahidul Islam also pitched in with 16 runs, making it the second-highest for the team.
It was a special match for Khulna as star pacer Mustafizur Rahman made his return. However, he had a challenging day, giving away 35 runs in his four overs with just one wicket to his name. On the other hand, Masum Khan and Mehedi Hasan Rana shone with the ball, each taking two wickets for 16 and 18 runs, respectively, while Sheikh Parvez Jibon also picked up two wickets for 17 runs.
When it was Khulna’s turn to bat, things didn’t go as planned, and they stumbled to just 81 runs in 17.4 overs. Captain Nurul Hasan Sohan was the top scorer for his team with 22 runs, while Anamul Haque Bijoy and Masum Khan Tutul chipped in with 16 runs each. Unfortunately, apart from Sheikh Parvez Jibon’s 15 runs, no other batsman could reach double figures.
For Dhaka Metro, Mosaddek Hossain was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for only 13 runs! Rakibul Hasan and Maruf Mridha also contributed with two wickets each, and Elias and Shahidul Islam rounded off the bowling attack with one wicket each.
With this victory, Dhaka Metro is geared up to face Rangpur in the final, and they’re eager to grab the title in this inaugural edition of the NCL T20! Excitement is in the air!
