Ebadot spearheads Sylhet victory in tight contest

 
Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain showed a glimpse of his form as he led Sylhet Division to a two-wicket victory over Barishal Division in a tight contest in NCL T20 tournament at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The pacer claimed 3-34 as Sylhet held Barishal back to 141-8, a total that his side overhauled with two balls to spare, albeit a hiccup.

Fazle Mahmud was the top-scorer for Barishal with 60 off 44, hitting four fours and as many

sixes. He and captain Salman Hossain Emon appeared to give the side a control in the game after they lost the two openers cheaply.

Rejaur Rahman broke through with the wicket of Salman who made 35, ending a 45-run run partnership after which Barishal's batting lineup feel like a pack of cards.

Ebadot was the wrecker-in-chief, inflicting the collapse as Barishal lost five wickets for 58 runs.

Amite Hasan led Sylhet's victory with the willow, making team-best 39. Asadullah Galib scored 24. But Sylhet also experienced a middle order collapse before Rejaur Rahman Raja helped the side get over the line with seven ball-19 not out.

Mehedi Hasan Rana grabbed 3-22 for Barishal to nearly seal the victory for them but in the end he ended up with a defeat.

Earlier, Habibur Rahman Sohan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hit half-centuries as Rajshahi Division outclassed Khulna by eight wickets in their second match in the NCL T20 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The tournament restarted on Friday after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) postponed it following an inclement weather interrupted the proceedings at Bogura and Rajshahi venues.

According to the revised schedule, from now on, all of the matches will take place at Sylhet. Electing to bat first, Khulna posted a challenging 171-7 with Soumya Sarkar and Aif Hossain hitting half-centuries. But apart from the duo, no one could get going against the disciplined Rajshahi attack.
Soumya hammered 34 ball-63 with six fours and four sixes. Afif, however, was little bit slow as he had to play the anchor role after the wickets tumbling around him following the dismissal of Soumya.

Afif made 50 off 45 with three fours and as many sixes.

But their effort was trumped by Shanto and Haibubur who made the chase cake-walk by sharing 148 runs in just 12.4 overs in their opening stand. Habibur was the wrecker-in-chief, smashing a marauding 94 off 45 with 10 fours and six sixes. He, however, missed out a well-deserved ton by six runs after Robiul Haque dismissed him.


Shanto was not out on 65 off 69 after clattering eight fours and two sixes.