Sports Reporter

The final day of the fourth round of the ongoing 23rd National Cricket League (NCL) witnessed a thriller as left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam’s four for 43 helped Dhaka Division eke out a three-run victory against Sylhet Division at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Dhaka had resumed the day on 234 for eight in 103 overs with a 92-run lead. However, Dhaka, who had batted the entire third day of play, could only survive 6.3 overs yesterday as they were bundled out for 243.

Chasing Dhaka’s modest 102-run target, Sylhet were put on the backfoot in the very beginning by pacer Sumon Khan, who removed both openers Imtiaz Hossain and Sayem Alam early.

Nazmul then ran through Sylhet’s middle order, removing skipper Zakir Hasan, Rahatul Ferdous and experienced Alok Kapali for single-digit scores before wrapping with the wicket of Ebadot Hossain as Dhaka bundled out Sylhet for just 98, winning the game by a slim margin.

Nazmul ended with match figures of nine for 115. Sylhet spinner Nasum Ahmed also had a memorable outing as he returned career-best figures of 12 for 113 in first-class career although his side ended up losing.

In the other game in Sylhet, a fifty from Tanbir Hayder and contributions from Naeem Islam and skipper Akbar Ali helped Rangpur Division beat Khulna Division by three wickets.

Rangpur resumed the day on 53 for one, needing 195 more runs to win. Overnight batsman Tanbir scored a patient 149-ball 74, laced with nine boundaries and a solitary maximum, while Naeem’s 41 and an unbeaten 33 from young wicketkeeper-batter Akbar drove Rangpur home.

The other game between Rajshahi Division and Dhaka Metropolis at the BKSP 4 ended in an expected draw despite Rajshahi’s Junaid Siddique scoring a ton.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Bowling Action Review Committee expressed its concern regarding a delivery by Barishal Division’s Mohammad Ashraful against Chattogram Division in their fourth-round match at BKSP 3. The committee mentioned that it is still in discussion regarding the matter.

Chattogram had won the game by an innings and 73 runs on the third day.