Akbar Ali, the captain of Rangpur Division, scored a first innings score of 179 runs and then a second innings score of 97 runs to help his team tie the National Cricket League match against Dhaka Metro on Day Four at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday.
Akbar hit seven fours and two sixes in 121 balls to score 97. It was the only important hit in Rangpur’s innings, which ended with them being bowled out for 159 after starting the day on 11 for the loss of two.
Arif Ahmed of Metro took six wickets and scored 76 runs. Shohidul Islam and Abu Hider Rony each took two wickets. Rangpur had a 140-run lead when they started their second game, and on the last day, they set Metro a 300-run goal. Metro scored 113 runs in 35.5 overs, but the game finished in a tie.
In Chattogram, Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury (4) and Nazmul Islam Apu (3), two spin bowlers from the Dhaka Division, took seven wickets between them to help their team beat the Sylhet Division by 52 runs.
Dhaka gave Sylhet a 210-run goal for Day Three. Late in the day, Shuvagata did the damage by getting three of the top four hitters, leaving Sylhet four down for 39 at the end of the day.
Two wickets were taken by Apu and captain Saif Hassan on the last day, along with one by Shuvagata, which helped bowl out Sylhet for 157.
Three wickets were taken by Shuvagata, Apu, and Mahidul Islam Ankon, a wicket-keeper batter for Dhaka who made a hundred in the first innings. He was named Player of the Match.