A fighting half-century from skipper Naim Sheikh and an all-round bowling display propelled Dhaka Metro into the final of NCL T20 with a 38-run win against Khulna Division in the second qualifier at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Dhaka will square off against Rangpur in the final of the inaugural edition of the domestic T20 tournament on Tuesday.

Naim scored 57 off 53 deliveries to help Dhaka post a decent total of 119 for eight in their 20 overs. Opening the batting with Imranuzzaman, Naim, the highest run-getter of the competition with 316 runs from nine innings, held one end together as wickets fell around him. 

The left-handed batter fell in the 18th over, to the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman, but had already ensured his side had some sort of total on the board for the bowlers to work with. His innings featured six fours and a six. 

Mustafizur Rahman proved costly on his return to action. Photo: BCB

Imranuzzaman (14) and Shohidul Islam (16) were the only two others to get into double digits.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur, who returned to action after a month-long leave, was expensive, getting plundered for 35 runs for the lone wicket of the opposition skipper.

Masum Khan Tutul and Sheikh Parvez Jibone took two wickets each for Khulna.

The 119-run target proved too much for Khulna, who could only manage 81 runs all out in 17.4 overs after having lost their first three wickets for two runs within the first two overs.

Captain Nurul Hasan Sohan's 22 was the highest in a disappointing batting effort from the Khulna team. 

Mosaddek Hossain took three wickets while Rakibul Hasan and Maruf Mridha took two wickets each for the winning side.