Chattogram Division Promoted: NCL Tier 1 Bound!
In the realm of cricket hierarchies, the Chattogram Division secured elevation to the forthcoming Tier-1 season of the National Cricket League, culminating at the pinnacle of the standings in the current Tier-2 contest. Their resounding triumph over Rajshahi Division, with a commanding 10-wicket margin at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, maintained a notable nine-point lead over Khulna Division.
The debut Test call-up for left-arm spinner Hasan Murad culminated in a stellar performance, clinching the Player-of-the-Match accolade with an impressive nine-wicket feat. His prowess shone through with four dismissals in the initial innings, restricting Rajshahi to a modest 189. In tandem, Hasan Mahmud and Nayeem Hasan contributed, each claiming three wickets.
Irfan Sukkur etched his name in the annals of the season as the second batsman to fall agonizingly short of a century, departing at 99. Nonetheless, his resilient 141-ball innings propelled Chattogram to a formidable total of 290, amassing a crucial 101-run lead. The fourth-wicket alliance between Irfan and Shahadat Hossain, who notched up 87 runs, amassed an influential 140 runs. Sunzamul Islam countered with an exceptional bowling display, claiming six wickets for 85 runs.
Rajshahi’s batting lineup succumbed on the third day, bowled out for a mere 124. Hasan Murad continued his bowling mastery, securing a five-wicket haul with figures of 5 for 42, while Nayeem and Mahmud chipped in with two wickets apiece. Chattogram effortlessly reached their target of 24 runs in a mere 2.2 overs, preserving a clean slate with no wickets lost.
Khulna Division orchestrated a comprehensive triumph over Barishal Division, spearheaded by Mahedi Hasan’s extraordinary exhibition, bagging 12 wickets and propelling them to a resounding nine-wicket victory. Barishal found themselves in disarray, posting a mere 46 in the second innings, marking the lowest score in the annals of Bangladesh’s domestic first-class history at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. Despite this triumph, Khulna fell short of promotion, concluding their Tier-2 campaign with 34 points.
Barishal encountered adversity from the outset, with Mahedi’s 4 for 62 instrumental in limiting them to 239 in the initial innings. Remarkably, this included substantial contributions from the lower order, with half-centuries from Kamrul Islam and Tanvir Islam at positions nine and eleven, respectively. Tanvir’s left-arm spin proved pivotal, securing four wickets and restricting Khulna to 214, affording Barishal a slender 25-run lead.
Mahedi’s unparalleled brilliance was unveiled in the second innings, amassing figures of 11.3-7-10-8, decimating the Barishal batting lineup. This remarkable performance marked the most economical haul of eight or more wickets in first-class cricket over the past 12 years. Al-Amin Hossain and Awlad Hossain contributed to the carnage, claiming the remaining two wickets. Khulna efficiently surpassed their target of 72 in just 7.4 overs, albeit losing one wicket in the process.
