Partex and ARAF finished Group B with eight points while BEXIMCO qualified due to their head-to-head successes against cellular phone operators CityCell and Aktel, after all three teams ended level on four points.

Aktel had the better net run-rate of the three but BEXIMCO, who lost three matches in succession before staging a late charge twice.

Earlier on Saturday, heavyweights Bangladesh Biman and Bashundhara Group won their matches in style to book their places in the six-team Cup stage along with GrameenPhone from Group A.

In the Cup competition, The top three teams from each group qualify for the main event.

The rest -- MM Ispahani, CityCell, Aktel, Acme Laboratories, Gazi Tank and BADC -- play in the Plate except BCB Development Squad, who are the only guest side in the competition.

The second phase will start from May 6.

Back to the action, seasoned campaigner Halim Shah smashed a century as ARAF Apparels handed Aktel a 20-run defeat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Leading the side in absence of West Indies-bound Khaled Mashud, Halim scored 102 off 125 balls to give ARAF a fighting total of 249-8 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Despite a solid opening by Uttam Sarker (50 off 70 balls) and Golam Mawla (59 off 98 balls), who put on 101, Aktel finished on 229-5.

At the Fatullah Stadium, Partex pulled off a thrilling one-run victory to shatter Acme's hopes to reach the Cup stage.

Inserted Partex were bundled out for 196 with in-form Ashraful Islam making 42. Acme fell just short of the target with eight balls remaining as Rezwanul Islam captured 3-34 for Partex.

BEXIMCO thrived on half-centuries by veterans Sajjad Ahmed Shipon and Parvez Ahmed to register their second consecutive win in the competition. The comfortable seven-wicket victory against City Cell at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium sealed their place in the upper tier of the next stage.

Opener Sajjad scored 80 off 104 balls and Parvez made 84 off 122 deliveries during a 150-run stand for the second wicket as BEXIMCO raced to 214-3 with six overs to spare in reply to CityCell's 212, which was built around skipper Hasanuzzaman Rosel's fine 80.

At the BKSP ground, a blazing century by captain Kamrul Islam helped BCB Development Squad round off their impressive campaign as a guest team with an exciting five-run victory against MM Ispahani.

Kamrul blasted 16 fours in his 141-ball innings to score 144, the highest individual score in the competition so far, as the rookies set a challenging total of 291-5.

Wicketkeeper Mokhtar Siddiki made an explosive 73 off 54 balls and Masumudowllah contributed 55 off 63 balls that was not enough for Minhazul Abedin's side who crashed to 286 in their final over.

On Saturday, Niaz Murshed's 119 off 96 balls steered Gazi Tank to hand winless BADC a massive 143-run defeat at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. Gazi Tank's 329-6 was the highest team total in the competition.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, left-arm pacer Syed Russell and left-arm spinner Musharraf Hossain Rubel shared eight wickets to guide Biman to a ten-wicket victory against MM Ispahani.

Biman's opener Rashed Haque stole the show after he rattled 82 off 65 balls, studded with ten fours and five sixes.

BCB Development Squad put on another inspiring display but giants Bashundhra still managed a 53-run victory at the Fatullah Stadium.

How they look
Cup teams
Bangladesh Biman, Grameen-Phone, Bashundhara, ARAF Apparels, Partex Group and BEXIMCO.

PLATE TEAMS
MM Ispahani, CityCell, Aktel, Acme Laboratories, Gazi Tank and BADC.