Magical Muktar
Second-placed Rajshahi seem to be in the mood of breaking one first-class record after the other in the ongoing National Cricket League.
After the exploits of Forhad Reza and Sanjamul Islam on the opening day on Sunday where they piled up 347 runs, the second highest seventh wicket partnership in first-class cricket, the team's number nine batsman, Muktar Ali, followed that milestone by equalling the record for the most number of sixes hit in an innings at the BKSP yesterday.
Muktar hit 16 sixes in his 168 to top the charts alongside Andrew Symonds, Graham Napier and Jesse Ryder. The all-rounder's 168 helped Forhad, who ended up scoring 259, reach his maiden double century. The pair produced 224 runs for the eighth wicket, which is also the highest eighth wicket stand in Bangladesh.
The resolve shown by Rajshahi's tail helped them post a remarkable 675 for 9 against Chittagong before declaring with a session to go. The innings total is quite outstanding in the context that they had recovered from a hopeless 77-6 on the opening day.
Muktar did not just stop there. After Rajshahi declared, he took the ball and ran through Chittagong's tired batting line-up by taking three wickets in six overs. The super-human effort from Muktar eventually took a toll on him as he had to leave the field temporarily due to a problem with his calf muscle. Where Muktar left, the other bowlers took over and reduced Chittagong to a precarious 165 for 7 at the close of play. Chittagong's national returnees, Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque struggled with the bat, scoring just 1 and 4.
Earlier, Forhad, who had an overnight score of 182, became the third double centurion of the tournament yesterday afternoon, as he reached the mark with a boundary off Mominul Haque.
He did however, ride his luck a bit in the morning session as he got dropped twice—on 189 and 195—before reaching the landmark. Forhad slowed down after reaching his 200, which led to Muktar taking the charge. The all-rounder was brutal against the spinners as he dispatched the likes Mominul and Yunus outside the ground with ease.
At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, young Taiabur Parvez scored his second century of the League to help table-toppers Dhaka take a 13-run lead against Barisal. Resuming on 14 for no loss, Dhaka finished the day on 336 for four. Dhaka's opener Abdul Majid continued his good run in the League and scored 86. He is now the leading scorer with 581 runs.
Khulna rode on half-centuries from Tushar Imran and Nizamuddin Ripon to take a first innings lead over Dhaka Metro at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday. They were bowled out for 213, after which Metro finished the day on a 104 for 3.
At Fatullah, Rangpur were boosted by Tanvir Haider's 111 to take their overnight score of 256 to 391. Sylhet's slow-left armer Nasum Ahmed finished with career-best figures of 7 for 97. In reply, though, Sylhet crumbled to 132 for 7 at the close of play.
Muktar Ali
- hit 16 sixes yesterday—the highest by a batsman in first-class cricket. He now shares the record with Andrew Symonds, Graham Napier and Jesse Ryder.
- The 347-run stand for the seventh wicket between Forhad Reza and Sanjamul Islam, is the second highest partnership for the wicket over all and the highest in Bangladesh.
- The 224-run stand between Forhad and Muktar is the highest eighth wicket stand in Bangladesh.
- Forhad became the third double-centurion in the tournament with his 259. This is also the highest score by a number seven batsman in Bangladesh.
- Rajshahi's 675 for 9 is the fifth highest innings total in Bangladesh
SCORES IN BRIEF
RAJSHAHI: 675 for 9 dec (Forhad 259, Sanjamul 172, Muktar 168; Ali Akbar 4-157)
CHITTAGONG: 165 for 7 (Faisal 54; Muktar 3 -10, Shafiul 2-41)
DHAKA METRO: 172 and 104 for 3 (Shamsur 69 not out; Razzak 3-25)
KHULNA: 213 all out in 81.4 overs (Tushar 55, Ripon 61; Riyad 4-45)
RANGPUR: 391 all out in 132.4 overs (Naeem 144, Tanvir 111; Nasum 7 for 97)
SYLHET: 132 for 7 (Shanaj 71; Shuvasish Roy 3-40)
Barisal: 323
DHAKA: 336 for 4 (Taiabur 102, Abdul 86; Monir 2-97)
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