Central and South reach BCL final
Shakib Al Hasan was there even though he really was not and ODI captain Tamim Iqbal and T20 skipper Mahmudullah Riyad wanted to be there but could not as the final group-phase matches of the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) one-day tournament yesterday took the shape of a virtual semifinal.
Shakib already decided about participating in two matches in Sylhet and his side Walton Central made the final before the final round of matches. So, Shakib left for Dhaka before the last round, leaving his national teammates Tamim and Mahmudullah to battle it out for East Zone and North Zone respectively.
Asked to bat, North Zone got off to a stuttering start before Mahmudullah and skipper Marshall Ayub put together a 120-run fourth-wicket rescue act. Mahmudullah departed to a run out after an 87-ball 66 and Marshall followed him back a couple of overs later before the innings crumbled, bowled out for 216.
Tamim got his side off to a smooth start and a six straight down the ground signaled his intent but Mahmudullah sent him back after a 38-ball 35. Imrul Kayes and Afif Hossain (26) held the innings together, with the former playing a match-winning 71 off 81 deliveries. Despite some wickets at the death, East Zone pulled through with a four-wicket victory.
Ultimately the victory did not bring them what they were looking for. A Walton Central Zone victory over South Zone in the other game would have seen East Zone make the final but South won by five wickets. South Zone and Central Zone will play the final on January 15.
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