Sylhet Tops the Points Table with Consecutive Wins

Sylhet Division secured their second consecutive win in the National Cricket League by defeating Rangpur Division by four wickets at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura. After a rain-affected draw in their first match and winning the second and third matches, Sylhet now leads the points table with 18 points.

Chasing a target of 190, Sylhet stumbled early, losing two wickets for 50 runs. Opener Taufiq Khan Tushar (9) departed with the team on 20, followed by No. 3 batsman Mahishukur Rahman Real (9) at 50, with just three balls left in the day. Sylhet sent pacer Rezaur Rahman Raja as a nightwatchman, who later anchored the team to victory. Raja scored a vital 59 runs and built two crucial partnerships, a 56-run stand with Pinak Ghosh for the third wicket and another 50-run partnership with Amit Hasan for the fourth wicket.

Raja, with 59 runs off 117 balls, including five fours and a six, left the crease with Sylhet needing just 34 runs to win. Despite losing two quick wickets, debutant Dishan (0) and Rahatul Ferdous Javed (0), both dismissed by Mukidul Islam Mugdha, Sylhet found stability through Asadullah Al Galib. Galib remained unbeaten with 23 off 43 balls, and alongside Amit, who scored 37*, secured the win with an unbroken 32-run partnership.

Earlier, Rangpur was bowled out for 158 in their first innings, with captain Akbar Ali scoring 37 and Khalid Hasan adding 33. Sylhet's bowlers performed effectively, with Abu Jayed Rahi, Khaled Ahmed, and Raja each claiming three wickets, while Tofayel Ahmed took one.

In response, Sylhet's batting faltered, getting all out for 189, gaining a lead of just 31 runs. Amit top-scored with 57, while openers Pinak and Tushar each contributed 28, and Javed added 23. Rangpur’s Rabbyul Haque and Abu Hashem each took three wickets, with Rizwan, Mugdha, and Asadullah picking one apiece.

In their second innings, Rangpur scored 220, helped by a 149-run partnership between Tanvir Haider (72) and Naveen Islam (63) for the seventh wicket. Tofayel and Javed took three wickets each for Sylhet, setting a target of 190 for Sylhet.

With a fifty from Raja, Sylhet comfortably chased down the target with four wickets in hand. Raja, who contributed both with the ball and bat, was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round performance.