Walton Central seal BCL Independence Cup

Walton Central Zone have won the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) Independence Cup after registering a comfortable six-wicket victory over South Zone in the final of the one-day tournament at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Batting first, South were bundled out for 163 in 48.5 overs despite a fifty-run opening stand from Anamul Haque Bijoy (20 off 34) and Pinak Ghosh (35 off 47). Central's five bowlers each scalped two wickets and did not allow South to gather any momentum once their openers departed.   

In reply, Central followed somewhat of a similar script to South's, with the openers Soumya Sarkar (21 off 25) and Mizanur Rahman (39 off 53) yielding 65 runs before left-arm off-spinner Nasum Ahmed dismissed Soumya. From 65 for one after 12.1 overs, Central fell into a slump to 76 for 4 in the next six overs, with Nasum grabbing three of the four wickets and Sheikh Mahedi scalping one while Mustafizur Rahman remained wicketless.    

However, from then on, it was all smooth sailing for Walton Central as skipper Mosaddek Hossain (33 off 85), also the Player of the Match for his allround performance, and Al Amin (53 off 69) stitched an unbeaten 88-run partnership to steer their side to the target of 164 in 42.3 overs. And with this victory, Walton Central tasted another triumph right after sealing the BCL's four-day tournament earlier this month as well.