Shanto makes strong comeback after injury forced absence

Dhaka, 14 Dec -Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made a comeback to the competitive cricket with the NCL T20 tournament after an injury forced absence which ruled him out of the national team's tour to West Indies.

Playing for Rajshahi, he showed no rust as he blasted a 54 ball-80 although
the superb knock couldn't win the match for his side.

Meanwhile, Rangpur and Dhaka Metro continued its winning streak in the
tournament, by winning their third straight game.

Rajshahi vs Barishal

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who returned to cricket after recovering from groin
injury smashed 54 ball-80 but Rajshahi tasted a five-wicket defeat to
Barishal Division at Sylhet Academy ground.

Thanks to his tremendous knock, Rajshahi put up a respectable 184-5 which
Barishal overhauled the total with three balls to spare by making 188-5 for
their first victory in the tournament in three matches.

Fazle Rabbi was instrumental in Barishal's victory by smashing 34 ball-56, a
knock studded by three fours and as many sixes. Opener Abdul Majid hit 53 off
39 with six boundaries to play a second fiddle to Fazle Rabbi.

Majid and his opening partner Iftekhar Hossain Ifti shared 79 runs in just 53
balls for the opening stand to lay the platform. Ifti made 35 off 24.

Shanto, the regular skipper of Bangladesh national, who missed the West
Indies tour due to his injury, sustained during the Afghanistan series, had
no rust despite batting after a long time.

He struck five fours and four sixes in his knock and shared 89 runs with
Habibur Rahman, in opening stand.

After the dismissal of Habibur who clobbered 33 ball-47 with one four and
five sixes, no batters could give Shanto a proper support, a thing that
played a huge role in their second defeat in third match.

 
Chattogram vs Dhaka
Left-arm pacer Fahad Hossain snared 4-11 as Chattogram crushed Dhaka Division
by 10 wickets for their second victory in three matches at the Sylhet
International Cricket Stadium.

Fahad's superb bowling skittled Dhaka out for just 64 in 16.4 overs, a total
that Chattogram gunned down in 11 overs by putting up 65 for no loss.

Taibur Rahman was the only one to reach double digits for Dhaka with 30.
Irfan Hossain, Ahmed Sharif and Mahmudul Hasan Joy took two wickets each to
complement Fahad in scything down Dhaka batting line up.

Later, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Tamim Iqbal stayed unscathed to sail the side
home. Joy was not out on 44 off 37 while Tamim was on 21 off 19 at the time
of the victory.

 
Dhaka Metro vs Khulna

Dhaka Metro made it three in three in the ongoing NCL T20 by holding their
nerve in thrilling contest against Khulna as they eventually won the game by
6 runs at Sylhet Academy Ground.

For Khulna, it was their second defeat in three matches. As has been the
case, they failed on prop up their game when they sensed a victory.
Asked to bat first, Metro were held back to 146-9 after the match was reduced
to 18 overs affair. Opener Imranuzzaman top-scored for the side with 28 ball-
46 which was laced with seven fours and two sixes.

Khulna eventually were restricted to 140-8 after Aliss Al Isalm wrecked havoc
on them by snapping 3-24. Azizul Hakim Tamim, who a few days ago led
Bangladesh Under-19 team to Asia Cup trophy made team-best 29 off 17.
 
Rangpur vs Sylhet

Sylhet Division continue its losing-streak in the NCL T20 when Rangpur handed
them a five-wicket defeat at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Put into bat first, Sylhet were restricted to a meager 120-6 with No.7 batter
Tofael Ahmed saving them from the ultimate blushes by hammering 38 ball-51
not out. Without his audacious knock that was studded by five fours and three
sixes, Sylhet wouldn't be able to go past 100-run mark.

Opener Jishan Alam who hit a century in the opening game, scored 31 off 25.

Arif Ahmed and Anamul Haque Anam took two wickets apiece for Rangpur.

However, Rangpur cantered to the victory in just 15.4 overs by totaling 124-
5. Naeem Islam paved the platform of their third straight victory with 50 off
35.