Shanto returns in style but faces defeat

On his return to competitive cricket for the first time after recovering from a groin injury, Najmul Hossain Shanto hammered a superb 54 ball-80 but his knock was not enough to help his side Rajshahi win the game against Barishal Division in the NCL T20 at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Saturday, reports BSS.

Rajshahi put up a respectable 184-5 but Barishal overhauled the total with three balls to spare by making 188-5 for their first victory in the tournament in three matches.

Fazle Rabbi was instrumental in Barishal's victory by smashing 34 ball-56, a knock studded by three fours and as many sixes. Opener Abdul Majid hit 53 off 39 with six boundaries to play a second fiddle to Fazle Rabbi.

Majid and his opening partner Iftekhar Hossain Ifti shared 79 runs in just 53 balls for the opening stand to lay the platform. Ifti made 35 off 24.

Shanto, the regular skipper of Bangladesh national, who missed the West Indies tour due to his injury, sustained during the Afghanistan series, had no rust despite batting after a long time.

He struck five fours and four sixes in his knock and shared 89 runs with Habibur Rahman, in opening stand.

After the dismissal of Habibur who clobbered 33 ball-47 with one four and five sixes, no batters could give Shanto a proper support, a thing that played a huge role in their second defeat in third match.

In another match, Dhaka Metro made it three in three in the ongoing NCL T20 tournament by holding their nerve in thrilling contest against Khulna as they eventually won the game by 6 runs at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet on Saturday.

For Khulna, it was their second defeat in three matches. As has been the case, they failed on prop up their game when they sensed a victory.

Asked to bat first, Metro were held back to 146-9 after the match was reduced to 18 overs affair. Opener Imranuzzaman top-scored for the side with 28 ball- 46 which was laced with seven fours and two sixes.

Khulna eventually were restricted to 140-8 after Aliss Al Isalm wrecked havoc on them by snapping 3-24. Azizul Hakim Tamim, who a few days ago led Bangladesh Under-19 team to Asia Cup trophy made team-best 29 off 17.

Meanwhile, Sylhet Division continued its losing streak in the NCL T20 when Rangpur handed them a five-wicket defeat at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Saturday. Put into bat first, Sylhet were restricted to a meager 120-6 with No.7 batter Tofael Ahmed saving them from the ultimate blushesby hammering 38 ball-51 not out. Without his audacious knock that was studded by five fours and three sixes, Sylhet wouldn't be able to go past the 100-run mark.

However, Rangpur cantered to the victory in just 15.4 overs by totaling 124-5. Naeem Islam paved the platform for their third straight victory with 50 off 35.