Metro survive Rabby scare to stay unbeaten

FE Team | Published: December 17, 2024 21:40:27

Rajshahi's Towhid Hridoy (left) and Mushfiqur Rahim bump fists during the NCL T20 against Chattogram at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Tuesday - BCB

Dhaka Metro secured its fifth straight victory in the National Cricket League (NCL) T20 as they survived a Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby blitz to pull off a thrilling one-run victory over Sylhet Division at the Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Opting to bat first, Metro put up 156-7 with No.7 batter Abu Haider Rony smacking 23 ball-47 not out. Shamsur Rahman Shuvo scored 28, but Rony's late onslaught ensured the Metro ended with a total to defend on the board.
Naim Hasan Sakib scalped 3-29 for Sylhet to rip through Metro's top order, which was their strongest link.
Sylhet were on the verge of the defeat after being reduced to 78-7 in 14th over but Mahfuzur Rabby, the captain of the team, refused to knuckle down. But Metro were able to deny him a double in the fifth ball to retain the strike.
Meanwhile, Towhid Hridoy made a superb comeback after recovering from his groin injury, but Chattogram ruined his party to win the high-scoring thriller against his side Rajshahi by 4 runs in the NCL T20 at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Tuesday.
On his first competitive game after recovering from injury, Hridoy blasted 50 balls for 69 with three fours and six sixes, but Rajshahi still fell short by five runs.
Put into bat first, Chattogram compiled a hefty 198-7, riding on 54 of Irfran Shukkur and 52 of Mominul Haque, who opened the innings. Shahadat Hossain Dipu smashed 15 balls for 35 runs, and Nayeem Hasan hammered 10 balls for 20 not out to help the side make a strong finish.
In another match, opener Anamul Haque Bijoy struck a scintillating ton as Khulna Division secured its second victory in the NCL T20 with a 21-run victory over Dhaka Division at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Tuesday.
Bijoy who is still trying to enter into the national team hammered 67 ball-101 not out, clattering 10 fours and five sixes to steer Khulna to 180-3 after they were asked to bat first.
He indeed single-handedly guided the side through the torrid period when Khulna's top order found them in wanting.
Meanwhile, Rangpur Division made a giant stride toward the playoffs of the ongoing NCL T20 after securing its fifth straight victory as they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Barishal Division at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Tuesday.
Alauddin Babu claimed four wickets for just nine runs to slice the Barishal batting line up before they were bowled out for 108 in 19.2 overs after being asked to bat first.
Opener Iftekhar Hossain Ifti was the top-scorer for the side with 25 while Fazle Rabbi made second highest 15. Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain took two wickets apiece to complement Babu to tear apart Barishal batting.