Sylhet ride twin tons to victory as Mymensingh claim first win

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Sylhet registered their second victory of the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL) season on the back of two centuries, while Mymensingh claimed their maiden win with a commanding 10-wicket triumph in the sixth round.

The other two matches between Dhaka and Khulna, and Rangpur and Chattogram, ended in draws.

Sylhet defeated Rajshahi by 234 runs in Bogura on Tuesday after Shykat Ali and Zakir Hasan struck centuries in the second innings. Shykat scored 108, while Zakir remained unbeaten on 101 to register his 18th first-class century.

Riding on the two hundreds, Sylhet declared their second innings at 318 for eight, setting Rajshahi a daunting target of 463.

Rajshahi, however, were bundled out for 228 while chasing the target, with left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed leading Sylhet’s bowling effort with five wickets for 72 runs.

In Chattogram, Barishal, who were forced to follow on, were bowled out for 256 in their second innings. Zawad Abrar struck 108 to register his maiden first-class century in only his sixth match.

However, his hundred could not prevent defeat as Mymensingh comfortably chased down the modest target of 27 without losing a wicket to seal a commanding 10-wicket victory, their first of the ongoing season.

Meanwhile, a rare coincidence unfolded in the Dhaka-Khulna match in Rajshahi. After Dhaka declared their first innings at 513 for nine, Khulna finished on exactly the same total, thanks largely to Mohammad Mithun’s superb 182.

Dhaka reached 173 for two in their second innings before the match ended in a draw.

Despite the stalemate, Khulna remained at the top of the points table with nine points from six matches, while Dhaka moved to seven points.

In the other drawn match, Chattogram failed to force a victory despite taking a 241-run first-innings lead over Rangpur in Khulna.

Resuming their second innings late on the third day, Rangpur batted throughout the final day to save the match. Mim Mosaddeak led the resistance with a patient 145 off 317 balls as Rangpur finished on 310 for nine.

After six rounds, Chattogram have seven points, while Rangpur are on six.