Sports Reporter :
Khulna Division will take on Rangpur Division in the final of second edition of NCL T20 tournament at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
“We have gained the momentum in right time. Hopefully we’ll carry the momentum into the final and won our second straight trophy,” Rangpur skipper Akbar Ali told the reporters on Saturday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
“Although it’s a final, it’s another game but with great significance. We’ll come up with proper game plan, like what we did in the past matches. And no doubt we’ll give our best.”
Khulna captain Mohammad Mithun said his team is determined to bring back glory to thedivision by winning the National Cricket League (NCL) T20 title, ending a long trophy drought in domestic cricket.
“Rangpur have been playing really good cricket and they are the defending champions, so they deserve respect,” Mithun told reporters on the eve of the final. “But we also have an experienced and balanced team. It’s been a long time since Khulna won a trophy, and we are determined to bring this one home.”
Rangpur won the trophy in the inaugural season of NCL T20 tournament last year but this year, they faced a stiff competition, which at one phase, put their ambition in limbo.
They showed great composure in the last part of the group phase matches, to finally seal the playoffs as the fourth team.
However, they beat Dhaka Division by one wicket, holding their never in thrilling contest in the Eliminator game before facing another tough battle from Chattogram in the Qualifier-2 game. However, this time too, they came on top, securing a four-wicket victory over Chattogram to finally seal the final place.
Khulna’s journey was straightforward. They secured 11 points in seven matches, same with Chattogram but remained at second position, based on net run rate.
They played the Qualifier-1 game against Chattogram and won that by four wickets to move to the final at first shot.
Chattogram which came into the playoffs as group phase leader lost both knockout matches to be ruled out of the tournament.
Unlike Chattogram, Rangpur won two knockout matches by showing the composure in the crunch moment, which gave them further boost in the final against Khulna.
