Captain Naim Sheikh leads Metro to win over Barishal

Captain Naim Sheikh led from the front as Dhaka Metro got off to a winning start to the NCL T20 with a 31-run victory over Barishal Division at the Sylhet Academy Cricket Ground.

Naim Sheikh lifted Metro to 192-4, hitting 65 off 35 with five fours and four sixes. He and his opening partner Imranuzzman set the platform upfront with 119 runs in just 11 overs.

Imran hammered 33 ball-53 with two fours and four sixes. However, both Naim and Imran were dismissed in the space of two balls and the next batters couldn’t hit big to take the score past 200.

But that mattered little as Metro held back Barishal to 161-8 despite Fazle Rabbi’s 52 ball-77. Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan snapped 3-26 to play a vital role in defending the total. Apart from Fazle Rabbi, only Sohag Gazi made some contribution, scoring 32 ball-40 not out. (BSS)