Rangpur came agonisingly close to victory but fell short by three runs in their match against Khulna. Chasing a target of 149, they managed only 146, despite a valiant effort in the final over, which yielded just nine runs.
The chase began positively for Rangpur, with opener Tanbir leading the charge. He remained unbeaten on 60 off 47 balls but was unable to carry his team over the line. Captain Akbar Ali contributed 19 runs from 20 balls, while Naeem Islam added a quick 11 off seven deliveries. Earlier, Anik was dismissed by Ziaur after scoring 28 from 23 balls, as Rangpur struggled to maintain momentum.
Earlier in the match, Khulna’s innings had a solid start. Openers Enamul Haq Bijoy and Imranuzzaman put together a cautious opening partnership of 43 runs from 43 balls. Imran was dismissed for 17 off 25 balls, breaking the stand.
Afif Hossain fell cheaply, scoring five runs from ten balls. Bijoy followed soon after, compiling 35 from 34 balls before being dismissed. Captain Mohammad Mithun played a brisk 25 from 17 balls, supported by Nahidul Islam, who remained unbeaten on 20 off 18 balls. Ziaur Rahman made a cameo of 36 from 16 balls, helping Khulna reach a total of 149.
Rangpur’s spirited chase ended just three runs short, leaving Khulna to celebrate a narrow victory.
