Masters Cricket Carnival: Khulna, Rajshahi, All Stars and Dhaka division into semis

Defending champion Titans Khulna Masters won their second match to reach the semi-finals, thanks to a better run-rate, in the Masters Cricket Carnival at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday. Ispahani Chittagong Masters were eliminated due to inferior run rate while Raw Nation Dhaka Metropolis crashed out of the tournament as they lost both their group stage matches. In the semi-finals, Khulna will play against Acme Rajshahi Masters on Saturday morning while All Stars Expo will take on Basundhara Dhaka division in the afternoon game.Khulna v DhakaKhulna defeated Dhaka by four wickets. Dhaka won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 115 runs losing nine wickets in 18 overs. Humayun Kabir was the top-scorer with 30 while Shafaq al Zabir scored 19. Jamal Babu was the most successful bowler for Khulna as he picked up four wickets for 21 runs. Chasing the total, Khulna skipper Habibul Bashar played a captain's knock of 33 and was adjudged man of the match. Khulna reached their target in the last over. Neaz Morshed scored 28 while Hasanuzzaman was not out on 26. Humayun bagged two wickets for Dhaka.Rajshahi v Dhaka MetroRajshahi cruised to the semi-finals after beating Dhaka Metro by eight wickets at the academy ground. Dhaka Metro won the toss and batted first, posting a challenging 125 on the board for the loss of five wickets. Faisal Hossain was the highest scorer with 59 off just 30 balls. The left-hander smashed seven sixers during his entertaining innings.

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Also read: Young players need proper guideline, says Faisal

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Rajshahi made a blistering start while chasing as both the openers Hannan Sarkar and Javed Omar started their innings aggressively. Hannan particularly was in destructive mood as he scored 65 of 28 balls with five fours and seven sixes. Rajshahi eventually reached the target with six balls to spare.Dhaka v ChittagongDhaka won against Chittagong to romp into the semi-finals as group champion. Chittagong won the toss and took first guard. Chittagong finished their innings on 127 for four in 18 overs, riding on Mushfiqur Rahman Babu’s 52 and captain Azam Iqbal’s 26. Shafaq al Zabir took three wickets for Dhaka. Dhaka reached their destination within 14.1 overs to move to the semi-finals as group champion with a better run rate. Humayun smashed a 48-ball 62 to guide them to the shore. Jubair Istiak also scored a valuable 33 off just 17 balls. Saiful Islam took two wickets for 18 runs. Chittagong’s legendary player Akram Khan did not play while another legend Minhajul Abedin featured but did not bat.

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Also read: Masters Cricket Carnival: Holder Titans Khulna lose opener

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All Stars v Dhaka MetroThe All Stars were victorious by 28 runs against Dhaka Metro to booked their semi-finals berth. The All Stars won the toss and elected to bat, scoring a massive 164 in their stipulated 15 overs. Opener Mehrab Hossain Opee and Ehsanul Haque Seezan crafted a perfect start, adding 110 for the opening wicket stand within 12 overs. Opee scored 48 off 35 balls with two boundaries and twice as many sixes. Seezan was not out at the other end on 76 of 43 balls with four boundaries and half a dozen over boundaries. Dhaka Metro lost regular wickets during their chase and eventually ended on 136 for six in 15 overs. Neeyamur Rashid Rahul scored 48 of just 18 balls but his late surge was not enough at the end. The All Stars’ Hasbul Hossian Shanto took two wickets for 11 runs.BRIEF SCORESDhaka 115/9 in 18 overs (Humayun 30, Jamal 4/21) lost to Khulna 120/6 in 17.5 overs (Bashar 33, Neaz 28) by four wicketsDhaka Metro 125/5 in 15 overs (Faisal 59, Anisur 23) lost to Rajshahi 126/2 in 14 overs (Hannan 65, Belim 37*) by eight wicketsChittagong 127/4 in 18 overs (Babu 52, Azam 26) lost to Dhaka 130/2 in 14.1 overs (Humayun 62, Jubair 33) by eight wicketsAll Stars 164/2 in 15 overs (Opee 48, Seezan 76) beat Dhaka Metro 136/6 in 15 overs (Neeyamur 48, Rabbani 32) by 28 runs