While Barisal’s men’s cricket team has never managed to clinch the title in the National Cricket League, the women’s team has now made history by winning the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) T20 championship. The Barisal women’s team finished the league with an impressive 12 points, securing the title in this highly competitive tournament.
The decisive victory came today when Barisal triumphed over Rangpur Division by 13 runs at the BKSP (Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan) Number 3 ground. With this win, they confirmed their place at the top of the standings. Despite losing the final match, Rangpur finished fourth in the tournament with 8 points. Khulna Division, with 10 points from 5 wins, claimed second place, while Chattogram finished third.
This 8-team tournament saw a remarkable performance from Barisal, who played with resilience throughout the competition. They claimed four wins, and in a nail-biting finish, Rangpur narrowly lost to them, confirming their spot at the top. Mymensingh, with 2 wins, finished seventh, while Dhaka Division failed to secure any points, finishing last in the league table.
The standout player of the tournament was Barisal’s leg-spinner, Rabeya Khan, who claimed the ‘Best Allrounder’ award. Khan showcased her all-round abilities with 9 wickets in 7 matches and scored 179 runs at a strike rate of 118.54. Her contributions were crucial in Barisal’s success, and she will be remembered as one of the tournament’s most impactful players.
In the race for wickets, Barisal’s Sultana Khatun shared the top position with Chattogram’s Fatema Jahan, both of whom took 14 wickets. Mymensingh’s Sworna Akter, with 13 wickets, took the third spot.
In batting, Sylhet’s Shamima Sultana excelled with an outstanding 275 runs at a strike rate of 96.49 from 7 innings, making her the highest run-scorer of the tournament. Barisal’s Farzana Haque came second with 254 runs, while Rangpur’s Zuraia Ferdous scored 189 runs to finish third. Zuraia also won the award for ‘Best Emerging Player’ for her impressive performances throughout the league.
This historic win for Barisal’s women’s team is a significant milestone for women’s cricket in Bangladesh, highlighting the depth of talent and the growing recognition of female athletes in the sport. The success also signals the rise of Barisal as a strong contender in future cricketing events.