Gemcon Khulna lifted the title of Bangabandhu T20 Cup on Friday, beating Gazi Group Chattogram by 5 runs in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Khulna batted first after losing the toss and posted 155 runs with Mahmudullah Riyad’s unbeaten 70, reports UNB.
In reply, Chattogram made a cautious start. However, they lost two wickets – Soumya Sarkar (12), and Mohammad Mithun (7) – during the powerplay.
Shuvagata Hom removed Soumya while Al Amin sent off Mithun.
Khulna took control of the game in the first 10 overs, conceding only 63 runs and taking three wickets.
Liton Das, the highest run-scorer for Chattogram, was caught short of the crease for 23 off 23 deliveries.
Chattogram needed 94 runs in the last 10 overs. Riding on the 41-ball fifty of Shykat Ali, they inched towards victory but fell short of six runs in the last over bowled by Shahidul Islam.
In the last 10 overs, Chattogram scored 87 runs. They needed 16 off the last six balls, but Shahidul conceded 10 only along with scalping the wickets of Shykat and Mosaddek Hossain in two successive deliveries. And Chattogram finished on 150 for six in 20 overs.
Shahidul bagged two wickets while Al Amin, Shuvagata Hom and Hasan Mahmud took one wicket each for Khulna.
Earlier, Khulna were sent to bat first after losing the toss. It made the match tough for them right away as Nahidul Islam removed Jahurul Islam off the first ball.
They also lost Imrul Kayes for eight adding only 42 runs in six overs in the powerplay. Nahidul bagged two wickets conceding 19 runs in three overs.
Next Chattogram captain Mohammad Mithun gave the ball to Mosaddek Hossain who removed Zakir Hasan for 25 off 20 balls.
At the end of 10th over, Khulna were stuttering at 63 for three wickets.
In the fourth wicket stand, Ariful Haque and Mahmudullah Riyad added 40 runs. Ariful, who was promoted up the batting order, managed 21 off 23 balls.
Right after Ariful’s dismissal, Shuvagata Hom came in and posted 15 off 12 balls. He accompanied Mahmudullah in a 34-run stand in the fifth wicket partnership.
They eventually posted a challenging total of 155 for seven in 20 overs. Mahmudullah Riyad hit an unbeaten 70 off 48 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
For Chattogram, Nahidul and Shoriful bagged two wickets each while Mosaddek and Mustafizur took one wicket each.
