BCL: North Zone beat South Zone to lift trophy

BCB North Zone secured a breathtaking 3-run win over BCB South Zone in a keenly contested final match to lift the 10th Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) trophy at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Sunday.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) arranged the one-day version of the BCL to help the players prepare for the upcoming three-match ODI series against India. The BCL is basically considered as the prime first class tournament of the country.

However as usually four teams took part in the tournament in which South Zone moved to the final winning all of three matches. North Zone which only lost to South Zone in the group phase took the sweet revenge to win the prestigious trophy. Islami Bank East Zone and BCB Central Zone were the other two teams in the tournament.

Being sent to bat first, North Zone put up a fighting 244-8 and then their bowlers held the nerve at the adrenaline pumping moment to restrict South Zone for 241-9.

South Zone needed 10 runs in the last over and expected to overhaul the target with ease with Nasir Hossain in the sublime touch. But he was trapped run out to give North Zone a chance to hit back. North Zone however grabbed the chance with both hands and made no mistake to seal the game.

Nasir Hossain was the top-scorer for South Zone with 61 runs but they got a whirlwind star from opener Anamul Haque Bijoy who blasted 59 to keep the side's nose ahead. Thanks to Rokbul Hasan who claimed 4-29 in 10 overs, North Zone clawed back into the game, leaving South Zone at 127-6.

As the North Zone looked to finish the game in emphatic style, Nasir made a huge resistance and took the game to the last over but at the end, it was North Zone which laughed the last.

Earlier, North Zone received a setback when their in form opener Liton Das was dismissed for 1. But they recovered from the shaky start through Fazle Rabbi who top-scored for the side with 65. Young Akbar Ali complemented him with 44 while veteran Mahmudullah Riyad chipped-in-with 39. Shamim Patwari was the other notable scorer with 37.

Pacer Shoriful Islam was the most successful bowler for South Zone with 3-45 while Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 2-31.

Brief score
BCB North Zone: 244-8 in 50 overs (Liton 1, Shahadat Dipu 4, Shykat Ali 22, Fazle Rabi 65, Mahmudullah 39, Akbar Ali 44, Shamim 37, Saifuddin 9*, Rokibul 6, Ripon 7*; Shariful 10-1-45-3, Kamrul Rabi 7-0-52-1, Miraj 10-2-31-2, Nasum 10-1-45-0, Nasir 9-0-41-1, Ziaur 4-0 -26-0)

BCB South Zone: 241-9 in 50 overs (Naim Sheikh 11, Anamul Bijoy 59, Zakir 42, Naeem Islam 0, Nasir 61, Tauhid 0, Miraz 0, Ziaur 0, Nasum 38, Kamrul Rabi 11*, Shoriful 0*, Saif uddin 10 -1-40-1, Shafiqul 10-0-67-0, 10-3-30-1, Rokibul 10-1-29-4, Shamim 1-0-10-0, Saikat 1-0-11-0 , Mahmudullah 7-0-37-0, Fazle Rabi 1-0-10-0)

Result: BCB North Zone won by 3 runs





Man of the match: Rokibul Hasan

BSS/EUM