Rangpur Division wrapped up the National Cricket League title with a seven-wicket win over Khulna in Bogra, then waited a few anxious hours for Sylhet’s game in Rajshahi to fizzle into a draw. When the defending champions waved through a handshake on the final afternoon, Akbar Ali’s side could finally let the champagne breathe.
Rangpur had looked in trouble after conceding a 134-run first-innings deficit, only for Mukidul Islam to rip out Khulna with 5 for 25 on a sluggish third-day surface. Chasing 231, wicketkeeper-batter Iqbal Hosen produced an unbeaten 114—his first first-class hundred—and the target felt smaller by the over.
The triumph completes a domestic double for Rangpur, who lifted the NCL T20 trophy earlier in the season. They did wobble while Akbar was away captaining Bangladesh A at the ACC Rising Stars tournament, yet three straight wins on his return nudged them past Sylhet when it mattered.
Sylhet’s stumble
Sylhet needed to beat Barishal but never quite found the tempo. Zakir Hasan’s 130—laced with 19 fours—dragged them within 25 of Barishal’s 332 but could not flip the lead. Rookie opener Iftakhar Hossain then batted through Barishal’s second dig for 128, setting Sylhet 320. They closed on 187 for 5 and, with no realistic path to victory, settled for the draw that handed Rangpur the trophy.
Mymensingh’s solid debut
Newcomers Mymensingh finished a creditable third despite losing to Rajshahi by 146 runs. Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam ran through them twice—5 for 61 and 5 for 98—to collect his eighth ten-for. Shakhir Hossain’s 94 gave Rajshahi enough breathing space, while Abu Hider’s career-best 141 only delayed the inevitable.
Dhaka dominate in Mirpur
At Sher-e-Bangla, Dhaka Division thumped Chattogram by an innings and 192. Openers Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Anisul Islam Emon posted centuries, the latter hammering 18 fours and five sixes in 186. Veteran Marshall Ayub added 165, his 29th first-class ton, as Dhaka piled up 546 for 6 before the bowlers—seamers Ripon Mondol, Salahuddin Sakil and Sumon Khan sharing nine wickets—rolled Chattogram for 158 and 191.
Season honours
Soumya Sarkar finished as the league’s leading run-scorer with 633 at 45.21, while Sunzamul’s late surge pushed him to the top of the wicket chart with 39.
Quick take
Rangpur’s depth made the difference: four bowlers averaged under 25, and seven batters passed fifty at least once. Sylhet may rue a cautious hand-shake; Khulna simply ran out of runs. For emerging names—Iqbal, Iftakhar, Mukidul—this was a breakout campaign. The break will be short: most players reconvene next week for the Bangladesh Cricket League, where form, as ever, can vanish as quickly as new-ball shine.
