Khulna reached the final of the National Cricket League T20 with a stunning four-wicket win in DLS Method over Chattogram in the first qualifier at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Chattogram will play Rangpur, the winner of the eliminator, in the second qualifier for the final berth today.
Khulna were set a revised target of 78 runs in nine overs after rain interrupted the game with Chattogram making 148-6 in 20 overs in the first innings.
Despite reeling on 30-6 at one point after a poor start, Avishek Das and Nahidul Islam stunned Chattogram by forming an unbeaten 51-run stand, as they cruised to 81-6 with three balls in hand.
The duo slammed Hasan Murad for two sixes and a four to accumulate 18 runs in the seventh over to reduce the margin and bring them back into the game.
Khulna needed 17 runs in the last two overs, while Avishek (27 off11) and Nahidul (21 off 9) kept things smart to outclass Chattogram at ease.
Earlier, Yasir Ali top-scored with 45 off 37, while Irfan Sukkur made 39 off 33 balls for Chattogram.
Mrittunjoy Chowdhury picked up 2-36 for Khulna.
In the eliminator, Rangpur edged Dhaka by one wicket in a last-over thriller at the same venue.聽
Rangpur restricted Dhaka to 123 and reached 126-9 in the penultimate delivery of the allotted 20 overs to clinch a nervy win.
Chasing the target, Rangpur stumbled early and fell into a precarious 52-6, as Mahfuzur Rabby took three wickets in consecutive overs.
Captain Akbar Ali played a fighting 44 off 27 balls to lift the side by adding 62 runs with Nasum Ahmed for the seventh wicket.
Nasum, who joined the team after returning from the Afghanistan T20I series, contributed 26 off 23 balls.
With eight runs needed in the final over, Akbar struck a boundary before falling, but Abdul Gaffar held his nerve to hit another boundary to finish on a high note.聽
Mahfuzur claimed 3-14, but his effort went in vain while Rayan Rafsan returned with 2-2 for Dhaka.
Earlier, Dhaka also made a similar start as their batters struggled after opting to bat. However, Mosaddek Hossain鈥檚 61 off 36 balls with six sixes and two fours gave them some respite.
Rangpur bowlers Nasir Hossain (2-20), Abu Hasim (2-24), Nasum Ahmed (2-26) and Alauddin Babu (2-38) took two wickets each.
