Bangladesh’s Domestic Cricket – Dhaka prevail after tight finish in National Cricket League
Bangladesh’s prestigious Domestic Cricket League concluded 14 November at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The 2010-11 season of National Cricket League One-Day tournament finished on a high, with an exciting clash between Dhaka Division and Barisal Division. Eventually the men from Dhaka snatched the coveted first-class title for a second time.
Barisal Division, who went into the final by default on the basis of the number of matches won in the entire league, won the toss and chose to bat first. Barisal made a modest total of 221 for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs. It was a very ordinary display with the bat from Barisal. Their openers started in shaky fashion with captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Fazle-Mahmud-c56945 scoring 14 off 40 balls. Shahin Hossain and Asif Ahmed breathed some life to a rather lifeless batting of Barisal when they dragged their team to 157 for the loss of fifth wicket. Asif smashed 48 off 57 balls which included two boundaries and two sixes.
Barisal’s innings sprang into life as Ariful Haque’s splendid 35 off 19 balls took the team to 206 for eight wickets. He hit four boundaries and a six that was a straight-drive off Dhaka’s paceman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahadat-Hossain-c2480.
Dhaka’s bowlers did a commendable job but the star of the winning team was the seam bowler Shahadat who took four wickets for 39 runs, while Mohammad Ashraful grabbed two wickets. Mohammad Sharif, Mahmudullah and Noor Hossain each took one wicket.
Dhaka reply got off to a disastrous start as the top three batsmen struggled to find their form on a flat pitch. Openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ariful-Haque-c45422 in the 21st over and it seemed like Barisal were in control of match.
However, Mahmudullah breathed some life into Dhaka’s staggering innings. He smashed 53-runs off 79-balls. Then, all rounder, Sunny played the most exciting innings of his career to lift his team to victory in the final. Sunny’s effort ensured that he stayed till the very end to give his team a three-wicket win against Barisal. He smashed an unbeaten 87 from 79-balls.
The left hand batsman and left arm spinner played some spectacular shots to take the game out of Barisal’s grasp. He executed a number of neat square-cuts and continued to sweep the ball to hit nine boundaries. He also pulled off two sixes in the 42ndover which were crucial to achieve the required run rate. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahmudullah-c1877 gave ample support to Sunny during the crucial moments of the match, when Dhaka had slipped to 79 for five in the 24thover.
The man of the match later said, “The team wanted to take the game to the last over at least and make something out of it (the game) but it ended earlier.” He conceded that he was over the moon, having never played in a team that “won a trophy of this stature.”
Barisal’s action on the field was impeccable but it seemed that luck was not on their side. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 Cricket Board to improve their division’s cricketing facilities.
The player of the series trophy was handed to Dhaka’s Mohammad Ashraful for his brilliant batting throughout the league.
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