No four-day match of the 27th National Cricket League (NCL) at the Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogra ended on the fourth day. Each match was decided in 3 days. The same happened in the last match.

In a dramatic match, Rangpur surprised the powerful Khulna by 7 wickets. With this victory, Rangpur jumped to the top of the points table.

After excellent batting in the first innings, Khulna’s defeat was hinted at the previous day due to a terrible batting disaster in the second innings. After falling for just 41 runs in the second innings, many were expecting Khulna’s defeat. Finally, those fears proved true.

Khulna, which started the third day at 41 runs for 5 wickets the previous day, was all out for just 96 runs. The highest 30 runs for the team came from Zia’s bat. Rangpur’s Mukidul Isram Mughad took 5 wickets for just 22 runs and Shariful took 3 wickets. Rangpur’s target for victory was 230 runs.

After the team lost two wickets for 46 runs, Iqbal Hossain and Nayeem Islam pulled the team to the Jewel Port. Nayeem Islam put on a 93-run partnership, but Nayeem was out for 45 runs, but Iqbal Hossain scored a century. In the end, Iqbal left the field with team leader Akbar Ali and ensured the team’s victory. He was unbeaten on 114 runs. His royal innings was decorated with 9 fours and 3 huge sixes. Akbar was unbeaten on 32 runs. Khulna’s Abdul Halim, Mehedi Hasan Rana and Nahidul took one wicket each.

Centurion Iqbal Hossain was adjudged Player of the Match.

As a result of this victory, Rangpur has climbed to the top of the points table with 9 points from 7 matches. Mymensingh and Sylhet are in 2nd and 3rd position respectively. The league title will be decided after the results of tomorrow’s match.

Brief scores:
Khulna: 1st innings- 308, Soumya 56, Ziaur Rahman 36, Imranuzzaman 34, Nasir 3/51, Mukidul 3/72, Sohel Rana 2/50.

Rangpur: 1st innings- 174, Alauddin Babu 44, Iqbal 27, Naeem 23, Safar 5/78, Mehedi Rana 2/20

Khulna: 2nd innings- 96, Mithun 19, Mukidul 5/22, Shariful 3/47

Rangpur: 2nd innings- 231/3, Iqbal 114*, Naeem 45, Akbar 32*

Result: Rangpur won by 7 wickets.

Player of the Match: Iqbal Hossain