Rain & toss break hearts once more

"Feeling extremely disheartened," were the few words with which Abu Taiyan -- captain of Glory School and College -- expressed his feelings after his school were eliminated from the Prime Bank National School Cricket Championship. They would not have minded as much if they lost the quarterfinal battle against Chittagong's Sunshine Grammar School on the field but it was once again the luck of the coin that played the decisive role in a rain-ruined encounter at the Moulvibazar District Stadium.

"Our school registered for the tournament for the first time and we entered the national round as unbeaten Dhaka Metro champions, but we didn't even get a chance to play the match in the quarterfinal due to rain. It's really painful. I cannot understand the logic of deciding a match through a toss. And I also cannot understand the logic behind arranging matches in this season and especially in the Sylhet reason," said Nazmul Huda, coach of Glory School and College, over the phone yesterday.

Manikganj Model High School, the Dhaka Division champions were condemned to the same fate at the same venue on Monday.

The organisers have however decided to arrange the semifinal between Sunshine Grammar School and Sunamganj's Govt. Jubilee High School today instead of Thursday, which is now a reserve day.

Meanwhile, a curtailed-overs match took place at the Tangail District Stadium because of rain and Chehel Gazi Shishu Niketon School & College of Dinajpur moved to the semifinals with a one-wicket victory over Pirojpur Govt. High School.  Pirojpur Govt. High School were bundled out for 98 runs in 28 overs in the 30-overs-a-side affair. Chehel reached the target in 29.4 overs with one wicket in hand.

The winners will meet Police Line School and College of Bogra in the semifinal on Thursday.