North Zone down South Zone in thrilling finale to clinch BCL

North Zone sealed a nervy three-run win to clinch the 10th edition of the Bangladesh Cricket League one-day tournament beating South Zone in the final which was a day-night affair at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. 

Chasing a target of 245 runs, South Zone's hopes rested on Nasir Hossain but the right-hander was run out on 61 in the final over of the innings as South Zone's innings ended at 241 for 9 in fifty overs.  

South Zone were cruising at the start of the chase as at one stage they were 117 for 1, courtesy of a magnificent 100-run partnership between Anamul Haque and Zakir Hasan for the second wicket. But after Zakir was run-out on 42, Anamul followed him giving a return catch to Rakibul Hasan after scoring 48-ball 59. South since then lost their way and kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were struggling at 121 for 6 at the halfway stage

Left-arm spinner Rakibul remained the pick of the bowlers for North zone bagging three wickets.

Earlier, North Zone posted 244 for 8 in 50 overs after being sent to bat. Fazle Mahmud top-scored with a half-century.  

North Zone however in a spot of bother early in the innings when both the openers Liton Das (1) and Shahadat Hossain Dipu (4) got dismissed cheaply. Fazle then paired with Shykat Ali for the third wicket before the latter departed on 22.

Experienced Mahmudullah then anchored the ship with Fazle and the pair were eyeing a competitive total. But Mahmudullah was eventually bowled for a 53-ball 39 by Nasir, while Fazle went on to reach his fifty before he too was dismissed after scoring 65 off 114 balls, which included striking four boundaries and a six. 

North Zone's Akbar Ali caught up after a slow start before being dismissed for a 41-ball 44 but probably the highlight of the North Zone innings was Shamim Hossain's blistering 37 off twenty deliveries where the left-hander struck five fours and a six to propel North's score to 244, which eventually became a winning total. 

Left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam picked up three wickets while off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz bagged a couple for South Zone.