Sylhet Division today confirmed their maiden National Cricket League (NCL) title with a match to spare after securing a five-wicket win over Barishal at their home venue Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, reports BSS.
Sylhet now have 37 points in six matches, 12 more than the second placed Dhaka Division. According to the tournament rules, a team can achieve maximum nine points for a victory in a match-eight points for winning the game and one extra if the win is either by 10 wickets or by an innings margin.
Dhaka have 25 points from six matches at the moment, meaning they are nowhere near to overhaul Sylhet's point even if they win the match in the last round.
Sylhet chased down the victory target of 105 in 27.3 overs on Day 4 what was the final day of the game, with captain Amite Hasan taking the winning single for a befitting finish of the game.
But they suffered an early hiccup, being reduced to 27-3 before Amite and Nasum Ahmed edged the side closer to victory with 77-run for the fourth wicket.
Nasum was dismissed for 44 with Sylhet just one run away from the victory. Moinul Islam who took the wicket of Nasum, removed Asadullah Galib for duck two balls later.
But Amite confirmed the victory in the next over by taking a single off Moin Khan.
Ruyel Mea and Moinul Islam grabbed two wickets for Barishal but that mattered little eventually.
Barishal put up 304 runs in the first innings before being all out. They thereafter put Sylhet in trouble but the league leaders, rode on three half-centuries from Amite Hasan (56), Mubin Ahmed Dishan (53) and Tofael Ahmed (64) to compile 342 and took 38 runs lead.
Syed Khaled Ahmed (4-18) and Tofael (3-17) then shared seven wickets to skittle Barishal out for 142 in its second innings, paving the side's way for a victory.
Sylhet, however, are still unbeaten in the league, winning four and drawing two matches.
The match between Dhaka Metro and Rangpur Division ended in a draw at Cox's Bazar Cricket Academy as it was predicted.
Elsewhere Khulna romped to a 58-run win over Chattogram Division at Sylhet Academy Cricket Ground for their second victory in the ongoing NCL.
Earlier, Dhaka thrashed Rajshahi by an innings and 11 runs inside two days at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
bd-pratidin/Rafid
