Nafis reminds with a ton
Nafis Iqbal came out of hibernation with an un-beaten hundred as Chittagong were well placed to gain a first-innings lead against Barisal at the end of Day Two of their 9th National Cricket League match at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday.
The talented right-hander struck 118, the fourth batsman to score a century in this round, in a fitting reply to his Barisal namesake Shahriar Nafees. The home team were just 13 runs shy of the visitors' first innings total of 293, with six wickets in hand.
Away in Khulna, Dhaka as well as their captain Mohammad Ashraful continued the poor showing in the first innings when they finished the day on 173-6 in reply to table-toppers Khulna's 253.
On the other hand, struggling Sylhet are facing the daunting task of avoiding another embarrassment as Rajshahi piled 417 in their first innings.
Sylhet were 88 for one before stumps were drawn at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.
BARISAL-CHITTAGONG
Nafis could have been a solution to the national team's permanent headache of finding an opening pair but he was nowhere since playing the last one-day international in June 2005, the historic match in which the Tigers beat Australia in Cardiff.
It was, perhaps, because of his indifferent attitude towards discovering form but for another occasion the opener showed his potential, occupying the crease for more than five hours to score 118 off 222 balls that contained 16 boundaries.
Nafis and Nazimuddin, who hit 57 off 82 balls with the help of eleven boundaries, shared a 99-run stand for the second wicket to lay the foundation while skipper Ehsanul Haque chipped in with 42 off 75 deliveries with four boundaries.
Earlier, number ten Sajidul Islam's unbeaten 45-ball 31 helped Barisal to reach 293 after resuming the day on 264-9.
KHULNA-DHAKA
The presence of new national coach Jamie Siddons was not enough to inspire national skipper Ashraful to put an end to his poor form in the competition as the ace right-hander scored only nine runs in his team's fragile batting effort.
In reply to Khulna's 253, Dhaka had a disastrous start when pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza trapped Al Shahriar leg before for 1.
Out of favour Mahmudullah Riyad joined Mehrab Hossain, who for the first time opened this season as veteran Javed Omar kept himself away from the match, to repair the early damage by adding 64 runs for the second wicket.
But their efforts were not enough to finish the day on a high note. Riyad top-scored with 51 off 144 balls with five hits to the fence while Mehrab contributed 26.
Nadif Chowdhury (27) and Anwar Hossain (14), however, kept their hopes alive.
Earlier, Khulna were bundled out for 253 after resuming the day on 239-7 with Dhaka paceman Mahbubul Alam returning with figures of 3-38.
SYLHET-RAJSHAHI
All-rounder Forhad Reza led a late-order surge after centuries from Farhad Hossain and Anisur Rahman on Tuesday as second placed Rajshahi amassed 417 to ensure full four batting points. Rajshahi started the day on 256 for five.
Inform Forhad smashed seven boundaries and a six to make 55 off 85 balls and he was supported by Khaled Mashud (33), who came out to bat at number nine and did not keep wickets due to a finger injury, and Mohammad Shahjada (32).
Left-arm spinner Enamul Hossain was the most successful Sylhet bowler with four wickets.
Imtiaz Hossain looked solid for Sylhet as he was not out for 65 while Ahmed Sadiqur accompanied him with nine runs.
BRIEF SCORES
KHULNA: First innings- 253 all out in 94.1 overs (Imrul 19, Nazmus 61, Mostafizur 62, Shakib 9, Tushar 54, Nahidul 7, Mashrafe 2, Sahagir 13, Ziaur 0, Monju 6, Murad 0*; Mahbubul 3-38, Ashraful 3-56, Mosharraf 2-68, Sharif 1-27, Shahadat 1-41)
DHAKA: First innings 173-6 in 83 overs (Al Shahriar 1, Mehrab 26, Ashraful 9, Mahmudullah 51, Shamsur 19, Mosharraf 9, Nadif 27*, Anwar 14*; Shakib 2-27, Mashrafe 2-27, Manjurul 1-30, Murad 1-48).
BARISAL: First innings- 293 all out in 98.4 overs (Hannan 10, Shahriar 108, Imran 12, Rokibul 24, Raisul 40, Humayun 23, Arafat 9, Shaheen 1, Talha 7, Sajidul 31*, Tarikul 11; Tareq 3-89, Kamrul 3-94, Saju, 2-42, Faisal 1-15).
CHITTAGONG: First innings- 270-4 in 77 overs (Salahuddin 17, Nazimuddin 57, Aftab 15, Ehsanul 42, Nafis 118*, Faisal 9*; Talha 2-55, Raisul 1-44, Arafat 1-45).
RAJSHAHI: First innings- 417 all out in 141.1 overs (Jahirul 2, Zunaed 8, Farhad Hossain 106, Naeem 2, Mushfiqur 13, Anisur 114, Alamgir 14, Farhad Reza 55, Khaled Mashud 33, Shahjada 32, Saqlain 12*; Enamul 4-107, Tapash 2-14, Alok 2-89, Nazmul 1-53).
SYLHET: First innings 88 for one in 37 overs (Kuntal 1, Imtiaz 65*, Sadiqur 9*; Saqlain 1-20).
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