Khulna: Left-arm fast bowler Mehedi Hasan Rana, making his return to first-class cricket after a 25-month hiatus due to injury and other issues, stole the show with a remarkable performance on Day 3 of the seventh and final round of the National Cricket League (NCL). Rana's exceptional bowling figures of 7-31 put Khulna in a commanding position against Rangpur. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rana, who gained attention for his outstanding performance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2019, helped Khulna secure a strong grip on the match by dismissing Rangpur for a mere 133 runs in their first innings. This gave Khulna a significant 111-run lead. By stumps on Day 3, Khulna had reached 6 for no loss, extending their overall lead to 117. Meanwhile, Sylhet, already crowned NCL champions, faced a challenging task to maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament. They require 59 more runs with only two wickets in hand to win their match against Rajshahi. In a separate venue, Dhaka Metro achieved a five-wicket victory over Chattogram. In the match between Dhaka Metro and Chattogram, left-arm spinner Arif Ahmed played a pivotal role by taking a total of nine wickets, including 5-80 in the second innings. This guided Dhaka Metro to a five-wicket win at Rajshahi Stadium. Chattogram was dismissed for 246 in their second innings, setting a target of 139 for Metro, who successfully chased it down, reaching 141-5. Sylhet's match against Rajshahi saw them in a precarious position as they aimed to finish as unbeaten champions in the NCL. Chasing a target of 201, Sylhet ended Day 3 at 142-8. Sylhet had already secured the title for the first time in NCL history, having won four matches and drawn two. Barishal Division made a strong comeback against Dhaka, reaching 207-5 and extending their lead to 186 at stumps on Day 3 in Bogura. Dhaka declared their innings at 310-9, aiming to gain control by bowling Barishal out cheaply. However, half-centuries from Moinul Islam and Fazle Rabbi thwarted Dhaka's plans, hel ping Barishal regain their footing in the match.
