Akbar fires Rangpur into NCL T20 final

Skipper Akbar Ali smashed a blistering 21-ball 40 as Rangpur Division booked their place in the National Cricket League T20 final with a thrilling four-wicket win over Chattogram Division in the second qualifier at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Rangpur will now face Khulna Division in the final at the same venue on Sunday.

Chasing 168, Rangpur got off to a steady start as openers Jahid Javed (35) and Nasir Hossain put on a 76-run stand inside nine overs. The veteran Nasir carried on to notch up a fluent 41-ball 54 before falling in the 15th over.

Akbar then took charge, keeping Rangpur on course with a fiery cameo. The wicketkeeper-batter struck three sixes and a four, injecting much-needed momentum into the chase.

Mominul Haque's twin strikes in the penultimate over -- dismissing Akbar and Nasum Ahmed -- set up a nervy finish. With three runs required off the final over, Naeem Islam held his nerve, dispatching Ashraful Hosan for a boundary off the last ball to seal the win.

Earlier, Yasir Rabbi and Sadikur Rahman (58 runs off 48 balls) laid the platform for Chattogram, before Yasir's late flourish lifted them to 167 for three. The right-hander smashed an unbeaten 53 off 27 deliveries, ensuring a competitive total.