All-round Mehedi steals the show
A brilliant all-round display from Bangladesh under-19 skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz led Khulna to a thrilling 13-run win over Rangpur at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium on the fourth day of the National Cricket League's third round and took them to the top of the table.
The 17-year-old off-spinner took four wickets to complete a ten-wicket haul yesterday. In addition to his bowling effort, he scored 96 runs with the bat in the low-scoring encounter. It was an effort that earned him the player-of-the match award.
With a dismal overnight score of 58 for 6, Rangpur needed 142 more runs to win the match. Many expected this game to be over before lunch. However, a fighting effort from Dhiman Ghosh down the order compelled Khulna's players to breathe heavily.
From 58 for 6, Naeem Islam and Dhiman stitched a cautious partnership to take the score to 120. Naeem was trapped in front after lunch and the baton of responsibility was passed onto the tailenders and they did quite well too. However, towards the end, Mehedi got the crucial wicket of Dhiman and Khulna's day out came to an end with 186 runs on board.
At Fatullah, Dhaka were ousted from the top of the table after they lost to Dhaka Metro in a close encounter. With an overnight score of 56 for 4, Dhaka required runs on the board. However, their batsmen failed to fire on a slow and low track and were bundled out for just 115. They set Metro a feeble target of 91, or at least that's what the sparse crowd that gathered in Fatullah reckoned.
16 overs after the exchange, Dhaka barely stood afloat at 35 for 5. Opener Shamsur Rahman, who had scored a century in the previous innings, was sent back with the fourth ball and the rest of the batsmen followed suit.
Luckily for them, Mahmudullah Riyad held his nerve. He scored a cautious 45 off 100 deliveries and took his side home. There was tension till the end of the game with the rains interrupting the game. At one point, towards the end of the tea session, Dhaka required just eight runs to win but were forced to stop the chase because of inclement weather.
However, as soon as they got back on the field in the evening, Riyad smacked a boundary to complete the victory.
The Tier Two matches between Chittagong and Barisal in Chittagong and Sylhet and Rajshahi in Bogra ended as draws.