Khulna Division have booked their place in the final of this year’s National Cricket League (NCL) T20 after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Chattogram Division in the first qualifier, decided under the DLS method. They will face the winners of Friday’s second qualifier between Rangpur and Chattogram.
Chattogram, sent in to bat after losing the toss, managed to post 148 for 6. Early wickets fell quickly, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy departing cheaply, but Mominul Haque (19 off 16 balls) and Shahadat Dipu (25 off 19) steadied the innings. The momentum shifted with a 59-run partnership between Irfan Sukkur and captain Yasir Ali Chowdhury. Irfan was dismissed for 39 off 33 balls, but Yasir remained unbeaten on 45 off 37, guiding his side to a competitive total.
Khulna’s chase began shakily, with wicketkeeper Imranuzzaman out for a duck. Rain delayed the game after the first ball of the third over, leaving Khulna at 3 for 1 and halting play for nearly an hour. The revised DLS target required 78 runs from nine overs, but in a desperate push for runs, Khulna lost five wickets for just 27 runs in 18 balls, slumping to 30 for 6.
The tide turned with a brilliant counterattack from Nahidul Islam and debutant Abhishek Das. Nahidul struck a six and a four off the final two balls of the sixth over, before the pair added 18 runs off Hasan Murad’s next over. With 10 needed from the penultimate over, Khulna required seven from the final over. After a wide from Mehedi Rana, Abhishek smashed consecutive fours, sealing the win with three balls to spare.
Abhishek, largely unknown in domestic cricket, had previously starred in Bangladesh’s Under-19 World Cup final in Potchefstroom, taking 3 for 40 against India. He finished unbeaten on 27 off 11 balls in this match, hitting three fours and two sixes. Nahidul supported him well, remaining 21 not out off nine balls, including two fours and a six. Their 51-run stand off 20 balls proved decisive, powering Khulna to a memorable victory and a spot in the NCL T20 final.
