Rangpur outclass Metro to secure place in inaugural NCL T20 final
The final opponent for Rangpur will be determined after the second qualifier between Khulna and Metro.
Rangpur advanced to the final of the inaugural National Cricket League (NCL) T20 tournament with a composed five-wicket win over Dhaka Metro in the first qualifier.
Metro's batting faltered under pressure after opting to bat first. An opening stand of 24 offered promise, but the team quickly unravelled, losing six wickets for just 42 runs by the 15th over.
Abu Hider Rony's spirited 16 off 8 balls, which included two sixes, gave the innings a late boost as Metro limped to 107 for nine.
Imranuzzaman was the top scorer for Metro with 30, while Aminul Islam Biplob added an unbeaten 23. However, their efforts were undone by a collective failure from the rest of the batting order.
Rangpur's bowlers shone, with Robiul Haque leading the charge by claiming three wickets. Alauddin Babu contributed with two wickets, while Enamul Haque Anam and Arif Ahmed chipped in with one apiece.
Despite chasing a modest target, Rangpur faced early jitters. From a steady start of 30 without loss, they stumbled to 45 for three, raising hopes of a Metro comeback.
Tanbir Haider's unbeaten 22 ensured there were no further hiccups. He found support from Ariful Haque, who also scored 22, as Rangpur completed the chase with one ball to spare, finishing on 108 for six.
The final opponent for Rangpur will be determined after the second qualifier between Khulna and Metro.