Khulna stormed into the play-offs of the NCL T20 with a 34-run win over Rangpur at the Sylhet Academy Ground on Thursday.
Khulna scored a massive 195-4 in 20 overs, powered by half-centuries from Mohammad Mithun (71 off 49) and Azizul Hakim Tamim (66 off 41).
Defending the total, the bowlers Sheikh Parvez Jibon (3-23) and Tipu Sultan (3-20) scalped three wickets apiece to restrict Rangpur to 161-9.
Akbar Ali top-scored for Rangpur with 52 off 29 balls.
With this win, Khulna ensured the playoffs with four wins in seven matches, and they will face Chattogram in the eliminator.聽
Meanwhile, Rangpur will face table-toppers Dhaka Metro in the first qualifier.聽
Despite a 17-run defeat to Metro in their last-round match at the Academy ground, Chattogram kept their position in the top four due to a plus net run rate of 0.222.
Metro set a decent total of 158-8, thanks to Shamsur Rahman Shuvo (56 off 48) and Marshal Ayub (51 off 42) for making fifties.
In reply, Sadikur Rahman (44) and captain Yasir Chowdhury (46) scored forty-plus knocks as Chattogram managed 141-9 in the stipulated overs.聽
Meanwhile, Dhaka beat Barishal by 19 runs at the main ground, but their win went in vain as they fell behind Chattogram in the points table with a run rate of -0.552, finishing fifth in the table.
Rajshahi secured a 26-run victory over Sylhet at the main ground, breaking a streak of four consecutive defeats that had previously swept their tournament chances.
Najmul Hossain Shanto returned to form with a brilliant 78 runs off 48 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes, helping Rajshahi set a total of 181-8.
Then the bowlers, led by pacer Asaduzzaman Payel, who claimed 4 wickets for 24, held Sylhet on 155-8 and crushed their hope to advance into the play-off.
