Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 5th National Cricket League
Mehrab back in business
Sports Reporter
A responsible unbeaten hundred from out of favour national opener Mehrab Hossain enabled leaders Dhaka to take a first innings lead on day two of their Ispahani Mirzapore Tea Fifth National Cricket League encounter against Rajshahi at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.At Jessore, Anisul Hakim and Gazi Salauddin steered Chittagong to a comfortable position against holders Khulna. Meanwhile, away at Barisal, the visiting Sylhet batsmen made merry to leave the hosts struggling for survival. DHAKA V RAJSHAHI Mehrab's 122 powered Dhaka to 254 for 5 at in reply to Rajshahi's first innings of 249. The season's highest wicket taker left-arm spinner Saifullah Khan Gem had earlier rattled Dhaka by picking up two wickets in successive overs in the morning after the home side had resumed on six without loss. But Sanwar Hossain joined Mehrab with the score reading 39 for two and steadied the ship. The two Test caps shared 85 runs for the third wicket. Mehrab had only one half century to show in his previous 5 innings' but batted with tremendous resolve and discipline. His runs came off 274 balls and included ten boundaries and two sixes. Sanwar, who had hit a century in the previous game, scored 42 off 50 balls before Saifullah returned to break the stand by clean-bowling him. Not surprisingly, Saifullah finished with the best figures of 3-85. Rajshahi's Mahbub Alam chipped in with two important wickets of Jahangir Alam (29) and Naimur Rahman (14). KHULNA V CHITTAGONG The Port City team were looking good as they reached 176 for 3 in reply to the holder's 285. Khulna's overnight batsman Tamim Bashir missed a century by just two runs as he ran out of partners but took his team to a respectable 285 after starting the day on 255 for 8 at the Shamsul Huda Stadium. Number six Bashir stroked seven fours in his unbeaten 98 off 272. Chittagong gave a bold reply with Anisul Hakim and Gazi Salahuddin hitting half centuries. Opener Anisul was not out on 69 off 205 balls with eight boundaries when bails were drawn for the day while Salahuddin made 66 off 131 balls that also featured eight boundaries. SYLHET V BARISAL Sylhet piled up an impressive 375 and by close on the second day, had reduced Barisal to 99 for 5 . Pacer Jakwan Ahmed grabbed three Barisal wickets. Sylhet's run feast was made possible by Nasirul Alam Nahid (89 off 170 balls) and Mohammed Rana (73 off 149 balls) after they had begun on 214 for 4. Barisal spinner Mustadir Litu claimed three for 84 from 30 overs and Tariqul Islam captured three for 93 in his 42 over spell.
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