Shawdesh Desk:

Khulna secured a five-wicket win over Chattogram to keep their play-off hopes alive in the ongoing NCL T20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Chattogram and Khulna are placed third and fourth in the table, with three wins each, respectively. They must win their last-round matches to qualify for the last two spots in the play-offs.

Put into bat, Chattogram managed to post 129-6 despite skipper Yasir Ali’s 39-ball 61, featuring six fours and three sixes.

In reply, Ziaur Rahman made 39 in 36 balls, and Azizul Haque Tamim contributed 36 to chase down the target at ease with seven balls remaining.

Shadman Islam smashed 54 off 37 to help Dhaka Metro cruise to a seven-wicket victory over Rangpur in another match at the main ground.

Rangpur faced their first defeat of the tournament after a poor showing with the bat as they were bundled out for 125 in 19.3 overs.

Right-arm spinner Aliss Al Islam and Abu Haider Rony scalped three wickets each.

Chasing the target, Shadman struck seven boundaries and a six to play the match-winning knock while Anisul Islam made 30 to guide Metro home.

Both of the teams have already booked their play-off berths.

At the outer ground, star-studded Rajshahi suffered a seven-wicket thrashing by Dhaka, courtesy of Zawad Abrar’s blistering 62 off 39 balls, which helped them to chase a target of 141.

Earlier, Rajshahi scored 140-10 in 19.1 overs after being sent to bat. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 37 off 26, and Sabbir Hossain hit 32 in 19 balls, but Mushfiqur Rahim (13) and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (one) failed to make it big.

U-19 World Cup winner Iqbal Hasan Emon grabbed 3-26 while Nazmul Islam Apu and Sumon Khan took two wickets apiece.

Sylhet won a low-scoring thriller against Barishal, beating their counterparts by two wickets at the outer ground.