BSS, Dhaka :
Left-arm spinner Hasan Morad shined in with a match winning nine-wicket haul as Chattogram Division claimed a 10-wicket win over Rajshahi inside three days in the sixth and last round of the 25th National Cricket League (NCL) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.
Having won the game, they finished at top of the NCL Tier-2 with 47 points, which meant, they will play inTier-1 in the next season.
Morad who got a maiden call up in Bangladesh’s Test squad for a two-match series against New Zealand, followed his 4-73 with 5-42 in the second innings as Rajshahi were bowled out for just 124, leaving Chattogram a requirement of just 24 runs to win the game.
Chattogram reached the winning target in just 2.2 overs with Mahmudul Hasan Joy hammering 11 ball-21 not out with three fours and one six.
Offspinner Nayeem Hasan took 2-31 and ended the match with five wickets to complement Morad.
Nayeem overall claimed 36 wickets in six matches to be the highest wicket-taker in this NCL.
Rajshahi got their all star players back for this match but no one could make a handy contribution to make the match a competitive one.
After being sent to bat first, they were bowled out for just 189 and conceded 101-run lead when Chattogram put up 290 before being all out. Irfan Shukkur missed out his century after being out on 99 while Shahadat Hossain Dipu who also got a maiden call up in Test squad, scored 87.
After making just 10 runs, opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was out with golden duck while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made 20, following his 31 in the first innings.
Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim who got a duck in the first innings, scored 16 and Rajshahi failed to challenge Chattogram in the second innings too.
Khulna Division meanwhile crushed Barishal Division by nine wickets at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, also inside three days. By virtue of this victory, Khulna finished second with 34 points in NCL Tier-2.
Rajshahi are in third spot with 16 points while Barishal finished at bottom table with eight points.
Barishal’s defeat was almost ensured when they ended the day two on 42-6.
On day three, they failed to put up any resistance and were skittled out for just 46 runs with two batters -Rafsan Al Mahmud (17) and Salman Hossain Emon (14) reaching the double digit mark.
Barishal’s dismal second innings batting left Khulna a need of just 72 runs to win and they cantered to the victory, reaching 75-1.
Opener Prantik Nawrose Nabil made 33 not out and Soumya Sarkar hit 12 ball-28 not out. Anamul Haque Bijoy was the only batter to be out on 14.
Opting to bat first, Barishal piled up 239 and then gained a 25-run lead, bowling Khulna out for 214.However the lead mattered little at the end.
