Mymensingh finish 3rd in debut NCL season

Dhaka, 9 Dec - Mymensingh Division finished third in its debut season in the National Cricket League (NCL) despite a defeat to Rajshahi by 146 runs in their final round game at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

They had overall earned 24 points to end the league behind champions Rangpur (31 points) and runners-up Sylhet (28 points). A victory in the match would have seen them as champions in the very first season.

On the other hand, despite the victory, Rajshahi ended the league as bottom-table with 18 points. 

However, the defeat of Mymensingh was ensured on Day 3 when they reached 227-9, chasing a mammoth target of 428 at stumps.

The Day 4 was a mere formality. Mymensingh survived 56 balls on the final day, which Abu Haider Rony made memorable with a six-laden 127 ball-141 not out.

Rony who began the day with 97, completed his feat in the first over and overall hammered 10 fours and 13 sixes.

Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam finished with back-to-back five-for, after wrapping up Mymensingh innings by dismissing Asadullah Hill Galib for 9. 

Sunzamul who scalped 5-18 in the first innings, followed it with 5-88 in the second innings as Mymensingh were finally bowled out for 281.

Sunzamul was named man of the match for his 10-wicket haul in the match. 

Earlier, Rajshahi put on 219 in the first innings and gained a crucial 82-run lead by bowling out Mymensingh for 137. They, thereafter, racked up 345 in the second innings, setting Mymensingh an improbable 428 for victory.BSS