Dhaka: Khulna Division defended the title of the four-day National Cricket League (NCL) with a huge 398-run victory against Dhaka Metropolis at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Thursday. 

Khulna collected 58 points from six-round with two wins and four draws. Dhaka Metropolis finished bottom to relegate from Tier 1 to Tier 2 collected 29 points, having four draws and two losses.

The Tier 1 topper Khulna registered the 18th edition victory with one day to spare scoring 207 runs in the 1st innings and 423-dec in the 2nd innings.

Tushar Imran (138) and Anamul Haque (122) hammered centuries in the 2nd innings for Khulna.

Pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain who captured six wickets conceding 41 runs in the 2nd innings for Khulna, shared the Man of the Match title with centurion Anamul Haque.

In the day’s play, Khulna resumed the 2nd innings with overnight score of 272/3 in 58.2 overs and declared the innings at 423/ 5 in 80 overs, including overnight 4th pair stand of 104 in 16.4 overs between centurion Tushar Imran and Mohammad Mithun.

Number-5 batsman Mithun added an unbeaten half century of 50 runs in the innings on the day.

Mehrab Hossain Jr, Arafat Sunny, Abu Hider, Dolar Mahmud and Sharifullah took one wicket each in the 2nd innings for Dhaka Metro.

Having 122 runs in the 1st innings, Dhaka Metropolis opened the 2nd innings on day 3 and finished for a tiny 110 for all in 39 overs.

Apart from Al-Amin Hossain’s six wickets, Abdur Razzak bagged three wickets for 42 runs.

Brief score:

Khulna 1st innings: 207/10 in 61.4 overs; Anamul Haque 62, Dolar Mahmud 5/53.

Khulna 2nd innings: 423/5-declared in 80 overs (overnight 272/3 in 58.2 overs); Tushar Imran 138, Anamul Haque 122, Hasanuzzaman 55, Mohammad Mithun 50(not out), Mehrab Hossain Jr 1/45, Arafat Sunny 1/59, Abu Hider 1/60, Dolar Mahmud 1/ 68, Sharifullah 1/101.

Dhaka Metro 1st innings: 122/10 in 36 overs; Sharifullah 38, Abdur Razzak 3/15, Ashiquzzaman 3/31, Al-Amin Hossain 3/39.

Dhaka Metro 2nd innings: 110/10 in 39 overs; Marshall Ayub 29, Zabid Hossain 20 (not out), Al-Amin Hossain 6/41, Abdur Razzak 3/42.