Tamim and Soumya Shine, Rajshahi-Khulna Match Ends in Draw at NCL

A half-century each from Soumya Sarkar and Amit Majumder helped Khulna Division avoid defeat and secure a draw against Rajshahi Division in the National Cricket League (NCL). On the final day, Khulna needed 396 runs to win, while Rajshahi required 10 wickets. Khulna batted the entire day, losing 7 wickets, and the match ended in a draw.

In the four-day Test match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Rajshahi batted first, posting a massive total of 426 runs. National team opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim led the charge with a century, scoring 141 runs off 133 balls.

Farhad Hossain narrowly missed his century, getting out on 93. For Khulna, Sheikh Mehedi took 5 wickets in Rajshahi’s first innings.

Khulna struggled in their first innings, getting bowled out for just 194 runs under the fierce bowling of Rajshahi's Asaduzzaman Payel, who took 6 wickets. The highest scorer for Khulna was Ziaur Rahman, who made 54 off 33 balls, while Amit Majumder contributed 52.

Leading by 232 runs, Rajshahi declared their second innings at 283, thanks to a brilliant 150 from Sabbir Hossain. This set a daunting target of 516 runs for Khulna in the second innings.

Khulna’s chase was led by an impressive 136-run opening partnership between Soumya Sarkar and Amit Majumder. Soumya scored 89, while Amit added 87 runs. Despite the big partnership, Khulna couldn’t reach the target, and Rajshahi couldn’t bowl them out. Khulna ended the day at 311/7, and both teams had to settle for a draw.