DHAKA, Dec 12, 2024 (BSS)—Tamim Iqbal ignited the second round of the NCL T20 by completing his 50th half-century in recognized T20 cricket. The knock eventually helped Chattogram win their first match in the tournament.

Khulna, Rangpur and Dhaka Metro meanwhile secured their second straight victory. Khulna’s match against Barishal, however, brought up pure excitement that tested the nerve of the two teams before Khulna prevailed by 1 run.

Khulna vs Barishal 

Khulna held the nerve to beat Barishal by just 1 run at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Earlier in the first match, Khulna beat Rajshahi while for Barishal it was the consecutive second defeat, having lost the first match to Dhaka Metro.

Pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi took 4-23 to help Barishal restrict Khulna for just 130-9 with Captain Nurul Hasan Sohan making the highest 39. Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy was the other notable scorer with 24.

Barishal however were held back to 129-9 after losing three wickets in the last three balls, in which they needed just three runs for a victory. All those three batters were trapped run out. 

Set batter Moin Khan who was not out on 43 off 27 with four fours and one six was at the other when the other batters made comical mistakes to be trapped run out. 

Earlier opener Abdul Majid made 51 off 53 to keep the side on course amid the wickets tumbling at the regular interval. 

Rangpur vs Dhaka 

Rangpur Division secured its second straight victory with a 21-run victory over Dhaka Division on DLS method at Sylhet Academy Ground.

Put into bat first, Rangpur piled up 140-5 but Dhaka’s target was revised for 134 in 17 overs. Dhaka were able to score 112-9 in 17 overs to concede their first defeat in the tournament. Dhaka romped to a six-wicket victory over Sylhet in the first match. Rangpur earlier beat Chattogram in the first match. 

After shaky start that saw Rangpur being reduced to 41-4, Ariful Haque stitched two important partnerships to edge the side closer to 150-run mark that proved to be enough on slow wicket.

Ariful who hammered 45 not out off 39 balls, shared 51-run with Captain Akbar Ali (28) for the fifth wicket and 53 with Anamaul Haque Anam for the unbeaten sixth wicket. Anam was not out on 26.

Chowdhury M Rizwan snapped up 4-21 to derail Dhaka for whom Arafat Sunny Junior was the top-scorer with 18.

Chattogram vs Sylhet 

Opener Tamim Iqbal further proved he has the fitness and form in his side to make him available for the national team by hitting a 33 ball-65 runs knock that guided Chattogram to a 12-run victory over Sylhet.

Tamim who returned to the competitive cricket with this tournament after seven months, made just 13 in the first match against Rangpur as his side conceded a five-wicket defeat.

But he proved how important his form is for Chattogram. His knock was instrumental in steering the side to 145-9 and the significance of his 65, studded by eight fours and three sixes was further evident in the failure of other batters.

Apart from Tamim, only two batters reached double digits with his opening partner Mahmudul Hasan Joy making 29 and Sabbir Hosan Sikdar adding 15.

Sylhet’s pacer Syed Khaled Ahmed wrecked havoc on Chattogram by claiming 4-19 from three overs.

Sylhet which lost the first game to Dhaka by six wickets were able to put up just 133 before being all out in 14.2 overs and thereby tasted their second straight defeat in the tournament.

Fresh from his 53 ball-100, Jishan received a first-ball-duck to give Sylhet a horrible start. But his opening partners Taufiq Khan Tushar sturck 36 ball-76 with seven fours and six sixes, however, that was not enough to seal the deal because of the failure of the other batters.

 Metro vs Rajshahi

Pacer Shohidul Islam claimed 4-23 as Dhaka Metro secured its second straight victory, edging Rajshahi past by eight runs.

After being asked to bat first, Metro were bowled out for 162 in 19.5 overs with Captain Naim Sheikh hammering 23 ball-43 with six fours and two sixes. Gazi Tahjbul Islam scored 18 ball-31.

Shohidul then ripped through Rajshahi batting line up with 4-21 despite a valiant resistance of Farhad Reza. The veteran Reza blasted 35 ball-60 with seven fours and three sixes but got little support from other end. Rajshahi eventually were wrapped up for 154 in 20 overs to concede their second straight defeat.