Bijoy, Mahfuzur star in NCL T20 fifth round

Dhaka, 17 Dec -Anamul Haque Bijoy struck a brilliant ton to help 

his side Khulan secure its second victory in the NCL T20 today. But a former Under-19 Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby who blasted a 39 ball-82 not out eventually couldn't help his side Sylhet to deny an unbeaten run of Dhaka Metro.

The thrilling contest saw Mahfuzur going boldly for 24 runs in the last over but Sylhet eventually fell short of two runs to suffer a heartbreaking one-run defeat.

Rangpur and Dhaka Metro however stay unbeaten in the tournament after fifth round and almost make it playoffs.
 
Elsewhere Towhid Hridoy struck a 50 ball-69 on his comeback match after recovering from the groin injury but couldn't guide his side Rajshahi to win.
 
Dhaka Metro vs Sylhet

Dhaka Metro secured its fifth straight victory in the NCL T20 as they 
survived a Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby blitz to pull off a thrilling one-run victory over Sylhet Division at the Sylhet Academy Ground.

Opting to bat first, Metro put up 156-7 with No.7 batter Abu Haider Rony smacking 23 ball-47 not out. Shamsur Rahman Shuvo scored 28 but Rony's late onslaught ensured the Metro ended with a total to defend on the board.

Sylhet were on the verge of the defeat after being reduced to 78-7 in 14th over but Mahfuzur Rabby, the captain of the team, refused to knuckle down. 
The former Under-19 star put the bowlers in sword to hammer seven sixes and three fours for his 81 not out off just 39 balls.

With 24 runs needing in the last over, Mahfuzur stood tall with head high to hit three sixes and scored 20 runs in the first four ball. But Metro were able to deny him a double in the fifth ball to retain the strike. However his partner Naim Hasan Sakib couldn't take any run in the last ball when they needed two runs to win. Sylhet were finally held back to 155-7. Abu Haider Rony who bowled the last over took 2-36.
 
Chattogram vs Rajshahi

Towhid Hridoy made a superb comeback after recovering from his groin injury but Chattogram ruined his party to win the high-scoring thriller against his side Rajshahi by 4 runs at Sylhet Academy Ground.

On his first competitive game after recovering from injury, Hridoy blasted 50 ball-69 with three fours and six sixes but Rajshahi still fell short of five runs.

Put into bat first, Chattogram compiled a hefty 198-7, riding on 54 of Irfran Shukkur and 52 of Mominul Haque who opened the innings. Shahadat Hossain Dipu smashed 15 ball-35 and Nayeem Hasan hammered 10 ball-20 not out to help the side make strong finish. 

Sabbir Hosain grabbed 3-21 for Rajshahi which were reduced to 75-3. But Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim shared 102 runs for the fourth wicket to take the side on the verge of the victory.

Ahmed Sharif broke the partnership in the penultimate over, removing Mushfiqur for 31 ball-46 as Rajshahi were just 22 runs away from the victory with 10 balls remaining.

Hridoy hit couple of boundaries as Rajshai needed 13 runs from the last over. 

However Nayeem Hasan dismissed Hriody in the first ball of the last over and Rajshahi eventually crumbled under the pressure. They couldn't overcome it and restricted to 194-7.
Ahmed Sharif took 3-38 and Nayeem finished with 2-25.
 
Rangpur vs Barishal

Rangpur Division made a giant stride toward the playoffs of the ongoing NCL T20 after securing its fifth straight victory as they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Barishal Division at Sylhet Academy Ground Alauddin Babu claimed four wickets for just nine runs to slice the Barishal batting line up before they were bowled out for 108 in 19.2 overs after being asked to bat first.

Opener Iftekhar Hossain Ifti was the top-scorer for the side with 25 while Fazle Rabbi made second highest 15.

Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain took two wickets apiece to complement Babu to tear apart Barishal batting.

Rangpur reached the winning target 109-3 in 17.5 overs with opener Chowdhury M Rizwan playing the vital role by hitting an unbeaten 53 off 44, an innings designed with two fours and five sixes. 
 
Khulna vs Dhaka 

Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy struck a scintillating ton as Khulna Division secured its second victory in the NCL T20 with a 21-run victory over Dhaka Division at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Bijoy who is still trying to enter into the national team hammered 67 ball-101 not out, clattering 10 fours and five sixes to steer Khulna to 180-3 after they were asked to bat first.

He indeed single-handedly guided the side through the torrid period when Khulna's top order found them in wanting. Imrul Kayes made 14, Under-19 captain Azizul Hakim Tamim scored 18 while Mohammad Mithun got a second-ball-duck, epitomizing Khulna top order's struggle.

But Bijoy kept the runs flowing amid their failure until he got the support from captain Nurul Hasan Sohan.

Sohan made an unbeaten 34 off 23 as the duo shared 89 runs for the unbeaten fourth wicket stand to help the side put up respectable total.

Left-arm spinner Jayedullah snapped up 3-13 to wreck havoc on Dhaka as they were restricted to 159-4.