SYLHET: Tamim Iqbal marked his return to competitive cricket with a standout performance, scoring his 50th half-century in recognized T20 cricket, as Chattogram secured their first win in the NCL T20 tournament. In a thrilling second round, Khulna, Rangpur, and Dhaka Metro also claimed victories, with Khulna narrowly edging out Barishal by a single run in a nail-biting finish.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the match between Khulna and Barishal at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium was a display of high tension and drama. Khulna, having previously defeated Rajshahi, held their nerve to win by one run despite being restricted to 130-9, largely due to Kamrul Islam Rabbi’s impressive figures of 4-23. Barishal, chasing 131, collapsed to 129-9, losing three wickets via run outs in the final three balls, marking their second consecutive defeat.
In another encounter, Rangpur Division continued their winning streak by defeating Dhaka Division by 21 runs under the DLS method at Sylhet Academy Ground. Se
t a revised target of 134 in 17 overs after Rangpur posted 140-5, Dhaka could only muster 112-9. Rangpur’s Ariful Haque played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 45, while Chowdhury M Rizwan’s 4-21 helped stifle Dhaka’s chase.
Tamim Iqbal’s return was a highlight for Chattogram as they defeated Sylhet by 12 runs. Tamim’s 33-ball 65 was pivotal in setting a total of 145-9, with only two other batsmen reaching double figures. Despite Sylhet’s Taufiq Khan Tushar hitting 76 off 36 balls, their team was bowled out for 133, succumbing to their second loss.
Dhaka Metro, meanwhile, secured their second victory, overcoming Rajshahi by eight runs. Shohidul Islam’s 4-23 was crucial in defending Metro’s total of 162, despite Farhad Reza’s valiant 60 off 35 balls for Rajshahi. This defeat marked Rajshahi’s second in the competition, while Metro maintained their unbeaten record.