Sylhet Division Eyes Championship with Two Crucial Matches Left in National Cricket League

Sylhet Division is on the verge of winning the National Cricket League (NCL) title, sitting at the top of the table with 29 points after the fifth round of the league. With just two matches remaining in the league, captain Amit Hasan and his team must perform well to seal the title. The batting department will play a key role in their success.

While Sylhet’s bowling has been consistent, there are concerns about their batting. In previous seasons, Sylhet has reached the brink of the title only to fall short due to the failure of their batsmen.

The team’s recent record at home is not in their favor, and apart from Amit Hasan and Pinak Ghosh, none of the other batsmen have been able to score big runs. However, there have been notable performances from players like Asadullah Al Galib, who scored his first century in first-class cricket after nearly six years. Following that, he also notched up a fifty. On the other hand, opener Toufik Khan Tushar has struggled, scoring just 191 runs in eight innings across five matches, with only one fifty to his name.

Among the younger players, Mubin Ahmed Dishan from Sunamganj has shown promise, scoring an average of 81 runs in his first three matches, with a highest score of 43. Tofayel Ahmed, a pace bowler with 9 wickets to his name, has yet to make a significant impact with the bat, but in the last match, he showed his potential with an unbeaten 47 runs off 6 sixes.

With the league nearing its conclusion, Sylhet faces a significant challenge in the last two matches. For them to perform well and win the title, it will be crucial for Tushar, Dishan, and Tofayel to step up with the bat, alongside Amit and Pinak.

Last year, Sylhet managed to win one of the last two matches but lost to Dhaka Division in the other. Despite winning only 2 out of 6 matches, Sylhet finished as runners-up with 19 points.

Looking back at previous seasons, Sylhet has faced huge losses in their final two matches, with one such instance being a 333-run defeat to Dhaka at home. In another year, they lost to Rangpur Division by 5 wickets in Bogura, despite the bowlers' strong performance.

With the title within reach, what are Sylhet’s head coach Rajin Saleh’s thoughts on the final two matches? Is he taking extra precautions to ensure they win the championship? Here's what Rajin had to say: “The way the boys are playing, I don’t see any challenge. The pitch in Sylhet has grass, and there will be morning dew, but our bowlers are playing well. If the batsmen can score a couple of good innings, it won't be difficult for us.”

However, Rajin is cautious and refrains from making any premature statements about the championship. He added, “It’s true that Sylhet is on the verge of winning the title, but I’m not assuming we are champions just yet. There's still a lot of cricket to be played. We must maintain the momentum in the last two matches, and until the final match is over, I can't say we are champions. To be champions, we have to fight for it. If we play like we did in the first five matches, the result will be in our favor, Insha'Allah.”

Enamul Haque Junior, Sylhet’s record wicket-taker in first-class cricket with 320 wickets, suggested that Sylhet should not make any changes in the team for the last two matches. He emphasized that the batsmen need to take responsibility and play big innings alongside Amit and Pinak to ensure a great result. Enamul said, “We have played well throughout the season, and we should continue playing that way. Our bowlers have been performing exceptionally. If the young batsmen step up in the last two matches and play big innings, it will be great, Insha'Allah.”

For Enamul, if Sylhet wins the championship, it will be the biggest achievement for Sylhet cricket. He reflected on how Sylhet had previously been promoted from the second division to the first and how they had won the One-Day championship. Enamul concluded, “If we can win the title by performing well in these last two matches, it will be the biggest achievement for Sylhet cricket. Sylhet has come this far, and now they can win the title, Insha'Allah.”

Another former Sylhet star, Alok Kapali, also believes that no changes should be made for the last two matches. He advised, “We should continue playing as we have been. There should be no changes. We should focus on playing our natural game and not think about a draw. When batting, the team should focus on playing long innings and setting a big target. When bowling, the goal should be to restrict the opposition to as few runs as possible.”

Alok was also impressed by the improvement of Khaled Ahmed, who is working hard to regain his place in the team. He said, “Khaled is trying to get back into the team after being dropped, and he’s doing well. It’s a positive sign for Sylhet. He’ll be more determined to make a comeback, and Sylhet will benefit from that. Raja (Rezaur Rahman) is in great form, Amit is scoring runs, and Galib’s bat is also showing results. Sylhet has a good chance. In the past, we used to start poorly and bounce back later in the league. This time, Sylhet is in a strong position from the start. If they maintain their rhythm, the championship will be theirs.”

In conclusion, Sylhet Division is in a strong position but will need consistent performances from their batsmen in the remaining two matches to secure the title. With a solid bowling attack and the leadership of Amit Hasan, they have a great opportunity to make this season their most successful one yet.