South Zone clinch record third BCL title after Razzak's 11-for

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South Zone came from behind to clinch the Bangladesh Cricket League title for a record third time - the highest in the competition. Having started the game on 47 points, South Zone crushed North Zone by an innings and 63 runs at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, overtaking them to finish with 65 points. Abdur Razzak was the chief protagonist, snaring his ninth ten-wicket haul.

Razzak took 6 for 48 in the North Zone second innings, as they were dismissed on the third morning for 115. That was in addition to 5 for 53 in the first innings, where North Zone were bowled out for 187 on the first day.

In reply, South Zone declared their first innings on 365 for 8 in 105 overs, built largely on the back of their top five. Imrul Kayes, their No. 3, struck 107 off 165 balls with 13 fours and two sixes, while the opener Anamul Haque and No. 4 Tushar Imran made 89 and 65 respectively.

Imrul and Anamul added 184 runs for the second wicket, while Tushar and Mohammad Mithun added 95 runs for the fourth wicket. However, South Zone lost ground after the second of those stands was broken, losing five wickets for 58 runs. Farhad Reza led that fightback with 5 for 57.

The only contribution of note in the North Zone second innings came from their No. 8 Sohrawordi Shuvo, who made 41 in 60 balls as North Zone folded in 43.2 overs. South Zone's victory took them past Central Zone, who have won the title twice, and North Zone, who have won it once.

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Malaysia clinch controversial last-over win

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Malaysia 208 (Alagaratnam 61, Faiz 50, Riazat 4-24) beat Uganda 199 (Muhumuza 38, Achelam 36, Syahadat 4-21) by nine runs

Muhammad Syahadat celebrates after bowling Bilal Hassan for his fourth wicket Peter Della Penna

WCL Division Four hosts Malaysia avenged a thumping defeat 11 months ago at Division Three, with a dramatic last over run-out to clinch a nine-run win over Uganda at the Kinrara Oval. However, the finish was shrouded in controversy, with Uganda questioning the validity of the run-out, as Suhan Alagaratnam's underarm throw from cover never actually hit the stumps at the striker's end. Video evidence viewed afterward by ESPNcricinfo supported their claim.

Chasing 209, Uganda needed 16 off 24 balls with two wickets in hand. But Malaysia's spinners built up the pressure with a tight infield ring that cut off runs. It resulted in Bilal Hassan forcing a pull off a good length ball from Muhammad Syahadat, and dragging it onto his stumps for 10.

With 10 needed off the final over, and the set Deusdedit Muhumuza off strike, Henry Ssenyondo nudged a good length ball from left-arm spinner Virandeep Singh into the covers. Alagaratnam swooped in and threw underarm into the ground, the ball bouncing five times before skidding toward the stumps. However, video replays showed that the ball never deviated after crossing the stumps, and instead carried on along its path towards fine leg, whereas a natural deflection off the stumps should have taken it to midwicket.

Square-leg umpire Isaac Oyieko of Kenya upheld Malaysia's appeal and ruled Muhumuza out, prompting the batsman to hurl his bat across the pitch. The implication from the video replay is that Malaysia's wicketkeeper Shafiq Sharif may have inadvertently knocked a bail off when making contact with the stumps. Sharif was credited for the run-out by the official scorers, though he never came in contact with the ball, further clouding the picture.

The ending marred what was a thrilling chase that Uganda arguably gave away with some poor shots on a flat surface. Man-of-the-Match Syahadat struck the telling blow, when he pinned Fred Achelam, playing around his pads for 36, ending a 54-run stand with Muhumuza. Syahadat then burrowed through the tail, ending with figures of 4 for 21.

Earlier, Alagaratnam and Ahmed Faiz had set up Malaysia for a defendable total with a pair of half-centuries, after Malaysia chose to bat under clear skies.

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