Rangpur Division decimated the challenge from a strong Dhaka Metro to clinch the inaugural NCL T20, winning the final by five wickets in Sylhet yesterday.

Pacers Mukidul Islam Mugdho and Alauddin Babu sent a few stumps flying, picking up three wickets apiece. Robiul Haque and Mohammad Rizwan also bagged one wicket each, alongside spinner Arif Ahmed, to bowl Dhaka Metro out for just 62 in 16.3 overs.

In response, Rangpur were reeling on 18 for four, but Ariful Haque and Tanbir Hayder steadied the chase before Mohammad Enamul hit the winning runs during a 9-ball 14 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

"I think the full team deserves the trophy; not only me. The kind of support our players provided in the tournament despite a few of them not having played enough matches ensured a positive vibe in the dressing room, and that's why we won the title," Rangpur skipper Akbar Ali reflected.

For the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), a low-scoring final or the low-scoring affairs in the qualifiers and eliminator rounds took some lustre away from the intended purpose the tournament would serve. But overall, the tournament served its crucial purpose, according to the chief coordinator of BCB programmes, Minhajul Abedin Nannu.

"Can't give it hundred out of hundred, maybe 90 in 100. The wicket for the final match was not up to standard since it was very challenging. Four games took place every day on two grounds. Still, I think the behaviour [of the wicket] was okay; just the final was low-scoring," Minhajul said yesterday.

"Overall, the tournament has brought many players into the focus of the selection panel. We hope to consistently organise the tournament in the future and hope that the deficiency that we have in the T20 format will be fulfilled," he added.

Bangladesh had been looking to create the player base for Twenty20 cricket in particular, a format that they have lagged behind in international cricket. The works with the High Performance (HP) unit had been carried forward to the NCL T20 -- a tournament that would also lend support to local players in terms of preparations for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League.

Jishan Alam of Sylhet, who hit a ton, played some eye-catching knocks. There were other knocks of importance, such as Akbar's or his counterpart in the final, Mohammad Naim's. Another U-19 star from Jishan's batch, Ariful Islam, also came to focus for his T20 prowess.

Abu Haider Rony showed he was no mug with the bat, while also churning out displays with the ball. Spinners such as Rakibul or Aliss Islam showed their mettle in the shortest format.

"Our HP has gone through a lot of players in the last four years and they are being noted now. If we keep playing more matches, more players will be found."

Minhajul said that they will try to ensure participation from national team players in the coming editions. Players such as Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mustafizur Rahman featured sporadically during this edition.

Minhajul hoped the tournament would be organised more effectively in the future.

"We want to play in this tournament in at least three venues. It would help the players rest and [improve] their mentality too. We couldn't manage [more venues] since the tournament was organised within a small window," he concluded.

NCL T20 HIGHLIGHTS

Champions: Rangpur (Prize Money: Tk 20 lakh)

Runners-up: Dhaka Metro (Prize Money: Tk 10 lakh)

Top Scorer: Naim Sheikh (316 runs)

Top Wicket-taker: Alauddin Babu (19 wickets)

Most dismissals: Akbar Ali (12)

Most Sixes: Jishan Alam (22)

Highest Score: Anamul Haque Bijoy (101 not out)

Centuries: 2 (Jishan Alam, Anamul Haque Bijoy)

Best bowling figure: Alauddin Babu (4-9)

Player of the final: Mukidul Islam Mugdho (3-12)

Player of the tournament: Abu Hider Rony (123 runs, 13 wickets)