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Bangabadhu T20 Cup: Skipper Mahmudullah leads Khulna to title win

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The month-long T20 extravaganza in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket came to an end with Mahmudullah-led Gemcon Khulna beating Gazi Group Chattogram in a humdinger of a game by five runs at the Sher-e-Bangla cricket stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. In a classic final, the Chattogram team had to find a different hero as all of its stars failed to shine on the day that mattered the most. 

Be it the tournament’s highest scorer Liton Das, big hitter Soumya Sarkar, or the 'Fizz' Mustafizur Rahaman. Even the skipper Mohammad Mithun and fancied young all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain couldn’t do much. However, it was an unlikely hero in Shykat Ali that took the fight to the opposition and challenged the Khulna team which was running away with the game initially. 

At one point in time, the men from the port city were struggling at 96-4 in 14.2 overs when Shykat decided to change gears and took the team as close as requiring 16 from the last six deliveries.  

However, experienced Shahidul Islam held his nerve and bowled some brilliant lines to defend the total. Even after getting hit for a six off the last ball, he was able to win the game for his team by five runs.  

Earlier, sent in to bat first after losing the toss, Khulna did not have an ideal start as they lost their opener, Jahurul Islam, for a golden duck. Wickets kept falling until skipper Mahmudullah joined Ariful Islam in the middle. The pair added 40 runs for the fifth wicket and gave some semblance to the innings. 

After Ariful’s departure, Mahmudullah partnered with all the lower order batsmen, including Shuvagato Hom and Mashrafe Mortaza, to take the team total a fighting 150. He was helped by Soumya Sarkar’s wayward bowling in the final over in which he scored 17 runs. In total Mahmudullah scored a brilliant 70* off 48 balls and was adjudged Man of the Match for his efforts. 

Mustafiz of the Chattogram team was awarded Man of the Series for his brilliant bowling throughout the tournament, in which he took 22 wickets in just 10 games. 

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