Kings complete semi-final line up

Kings of Khulna completed the semi-final line-up of the National Cricket League Twenty20 Tournament but not before a controversial catch nearly ruined their game against Barisal Blazers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Barisal Blazers moved to withdraw the team after Kings claimed a catch of all-rounder Ziaur Rahman, although television replay suggested the fielder, Forhad Hossain, had fallen on the boundary rope after taking the ball in his grip.
There was no third umpire in place for the tournament, so the umpires had no option but to put their trust on the fielder. But Blazers said they expected a gamesmanship from a side that happened to be led by national skipper Sakib al Hasan.
Sakib refused to call Zia back to the crease creating uproar in the Blazers dressing room as the batsman was their last hope to upset Kings, who were already in the driving seat in the game.
In a virtual knockout game, chasing 140 runs, Barisal Blazers needed to score 48 runs from 20 balls with three wickets in hand when all the trouble began. Zia, famous for his big-hitting ability, had just opened up his bat and struck Dollar Mahmud for a six in the previous ball before Forhad took the catch at long-on.
Following a request from the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Blazers retuned to the game and were all out for 94 runs with two overs still left in their innings, conceding a 45-run defeat.
With this win Kings advanced to the semi-finals where they will play against Sultans of Sylhet. Dhaka Dynamites will face Rajshahi Rangers in the other semi-final. Both the semi-finals will be held today.
‘It was not possible for me to see the replay from the field. So I had to trust my fielder,’ said Kings captain Sakib.
‘Maybe they had some points, but these things can happen in cricket. It also happened against us in a game when we were playing at the BKSP,’ added the all-rounder.
Blazers captain Shahriar Nafees was critical of umpiring saying that the two wise men in the middle were absent-minded.
‘I understand that they had to rely on the fielder. But on some other occasions they were absent-minded,’ said Nafees citing an example that when Nazimuddin was out, three fielders were staying outside the circle despite the fielding restriction.
Shahriar said it was a no-ball, but the umpires did not notice it. Nazim, dropped in the first ball of the innings, was the first Blazers batsman out and the rest followed him without offering any challenge to Kings. Sri Lankan recruits Jeevantha Kulatunga made highest 23 runs while skipper Nafees added 21.
Earlier, Kings of Khulna did only a little better adding 50 runs in their last five overs to post 139 runs before they were all out in the last ball of their innings. Dollar Mahmud was unbeaten on 30 off 18 balls to lead their late charge.
Among the top-order batsmen, only Imrul Kayes (36 off 33 balls) and Mahela Udawatte (26 off 18 balls) reached double figures while skipper Sakib suffered a first-ball duck.

Courtesy of NewAge