Mahmudul Hasan struck his second half-century to help Chattogram thrash Barishal by eight wickets and maintain their perfect run in the ongoing NCL T20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
After being put into bat first, Barishal were restricted to 128-7, thanks to Mehedi Hasan Rana鈥檚 3-18. Then Mahmudul smashed a blistering 48-ball unbeaten 78 as Chattogram cruised to 133-2 in 16.3 overs.
Chasing the target, Mahmudul anchored their innings by adding 43 runs with Mominul Haque, who scored 22, and another brief 23-run stand with Shahadat Hossain (10).
After losing Shahadat early, the right-handed batter and Shykat Ali made some light work, putting together an unbeaten 67 runs to secure their win and retain the second spot in the points table.
Mahmudul hit six boundaries and five sixes to register his second fifty, while Shykat remained unbeaten on 23 off 28.聽
Earlier, Barishal made a decent start but fell short in the middle overs as Mehedi and spinner Hasan Murad (2-10) prevented the batters from forming big partnerships, which also dented the run rate.聽
Iftakhar Hossain Ifti top-scored with 33 off 26 balls including four boundaries and two sixes. Fazle Mahmud and Sohag Gazi contributed 26 and 18 runs, respectively, while others failed to reach double figures.
Barishal are currently at the bottom of the points table, with no wins from four matches.
In another match, Khulna edged Rangpur by three runs after a last-over thriller at the same venue.
Chasing a modest 150-run target set by Khulna, Rangpur needed 12 runs off the final over against medium pacer Ziaur Rahman.聽
Despite starting the over with a wide, Ziaur held his nerve and denied boundaries to secure a thrilling victory and help Khulna climb to third place.
Rangpur eventually finished on 146-6, with Tanbir unbeaten on 60 off 47 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes, and Anik Sarker contributed 28 off 23 balls.聽
Robiul Hoque was the pick of the Khulna bowlers with 3-32.
Earlier, Khulna had a slow start as openers Imranuzzaman (17 off 25) and Anamul Haque Bijoy (35 off 34) struggled with the bat.聽
Their innings soon wobbled as Afif Hossain (5) and Anamul fell in quick succession, while captain Md Mithun scored 25 off 17 balls.
Zia smashed 36 off 16 balls with four sixes, while Nahidul added 20 off 18 to propel Khulna to put up a fighting total.
Abu Hasim finished with 2-20 for Rangpur.
