Rony stars as Dhaka beat Rangpur in three days

Dhaka opener Rony Talukdar starred with his 11th first-class century to help his side beat Rangpur by 23 runs in the 25th edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. 

The low-scoring contest lasted only three days Dhaka bundled out Rangpur for 128 after giving them a target of 151.
Dhaka were skittled out for 166 after being sent to bat first. Rony put away 19 fours for his unbeaten 112-ball 102 and he was one of only three batters to have reached three figures for Dhaka.

Nobin Islam of Rangpur picked up a fifer, giving away 28 runs from his 10.4 overs. 

Rangpur responded with a 72-run lead as they posted 238, courtesy of their skipper Ariful Haque's 58-run knock. Dhaka's left-arm pacer Salauddin Shakil scalped four wickets for 41 runs to restrict the Rangpur's lead.

Dhaka's second innings saw batter Taibur Rahman bail them out with a 66-run knock after they were reduced to five down for 95. Taibur top-scored but Rony also managed to contribute with 39 runs at the top as Dhaka were all out for 223, giving Rangpur a 151-run target.

Rangpur's Asadullah Hill Galib impressed with a five-wicket haul, dismissing the first five Dhaka batters, to help restrict Dhaka and allow his side a manageable total but Rangpur were bundled out for 128, courtesy of Dhaka's pacers—Shakil (3), Sumon Khan (2), and Anamul Haque (4)—who picked up nine wickets between them.

Rangpur's Nihad Uz Zaman put in a 56-run knock but it was futile as he couldn't take his team through.