Hridoys 98 in vain as Naim Saif guide Central Zone to title with 5-wicket win

Central Zone clinched a dominant victory in the final of the 12th BCL One-Day, defeating North Zone by five wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur to lift the trophy.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, North Zone were bowled out for 238 in 49.3 overs. Tawhid Hridoy was the backbone of the innings, scoring a brilliant 98 to give his team a fighting total. His knock, decorated with eight fours and a six, narrowly missed out on a century but helped North Zone post a competitive 238. However, the lack of substantial partnerships at the other end meant they failed to bat out the full 50 overs.

For North Zone, Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed 35 off 51 balls, while Mehidy Hasan added 28 runs. Tanzid Hasan Tamim chipped in with 23.

Among the Central Zone bowlers, Ripon Mondol was the standout performer, claiming four wickets in 9.3 overs to trigger a middle-order collapse. Rakibul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed supported him well with two wickets each.

Chasing 239, Central Zone remained in control from the outset. Mohammad Naim Sheikh played a crucial innings of 87, striking five fours and three sixes to ease the chase. Saif Hasan also impressed with a fluent 78, featuring seven fours and three sixes. Their partnership largely dictated the course of the match.

Central Zone reached 239 for 5 in just 38 overs, sealing the win with 12 overs to spare — a clear reflection of their dominance. Although North Zone picked up a few wickets in between, they failed to apply sustained pressure.

In the end, Central Zone secured the title with a comfortable five-wicket victory, overshadowing Hridoy’s unfortunate 98 with disciplined bowling and effective batting in the final.