Stalwarts fail to make impact
Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Imrul Kayes got starts on the second day of the first round of the National Cricket League (NCL), but could not captalise. As matches continued at four venues across the country, it was pacer Tawhidul Islam who hogged the limelight, demolishing Mushfiqur's Rajshahi for 93 runs.
At the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, wickets fell like ninepins, with 18 wickets falling on the day after hosts Rajshahi were bundled out for 93 runs, which put Barisal on top. Barisal were dismissed for 160 runs in their second innings, setting a 371-run target for their opponents, which out-of-favour opener Shahriar Nafees believed was good enough to secure full points for Barisal.
"There is a grass and movement in the pitch and Tawhidul used the conditions brilliantly. It would be better if we had some more runs in the second innings but still in this condition a 370-run lead is good enough,” said Nafees.
The chief destroyer was Tawhidul, capturing six wickets including the one of Mushfiqur, who top scored with 32.
After Dhaka's dismissal for 187 runs, hosts Khulna reached 168 for four in the rain-interrupted day at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, which might force many to think that there was something for the bowlers in the pitch. However, selector Habibul Bashar, who was in Khulna to watch the match, gave a different opinion and expressed his frustration over the surface.
"Batsmen lost their wickets through their own faults and the reason might be that they were playing their first match this season. But there was nothing for the bowlers in the pitch. I am really frustrated that nothing has changed though we gave a lot of effort, talked a lot and had several meetings regarding green-top wickets. But in reality it's the same old story. I am not sure whether the story is same for the other venues also," said a frustrated Bashar.
National opener Kayes was dismissed for 29 while Shakib Al Hasan returned to the dressing room after making 13 runs, thereby missing the opportunity to get some batting practice ahead of Australia's visit.
A 133-run unbeaten sixth wicket stand between Dhiman Ghosh and Ariful Haque put Rangpur on top against Dhaka Metro at the Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogra, while in the rain-interrupted day at Fatullah, Sylhet finished the day at 352-8 after resuming the day on 240-4.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BARISAL VS RAJSHAHI
BARISAL: 302 and 160 all out in 44.4 overs (Mahmud 35, Mosaddek 40, Gazi 25; Reza 3-31, Sanjamul 4-49, Farhad 3-20). RAJSHAHI: 93 all out in 44 overs (Mushfiqur 32; Towhidul 6-31, Kabir 3-11) and 25-0 in 6 overs (Nazmul 16 not out, Jahurul 9 not out)
DHAKA VS KHULNA
DHAKA: 187 all out in 66 overs (Saif 68, Nadif 36; Mustafizur 4-29, Razzak 4-72). KHULNA: 168-4 in 49 overs (Imrul 29, Mehedi 53, Shakib 13, Tushar 26, Mithun 21 not out, Nurul 25 not out; Nazmul 2-67)
DHAKA METRO VS RANGPUR
DHAKA METRO: 238. RANGPUR: 266-5 in 92 overs (Tanveer 31, Naeem 46, Mahmudul 41, Dhiman 85 not out, Ariful 48 not out; Shahid 2-63, Elias Sunny 2-63)
SYLHET VS CHITTAGONG
SYLHET: 352-8 in 120.2 overs (Imtiaz 37, Rajin 74, Ruman 80, Rahatul 56 not out, Abul 32; Merajul 2-42, Nabil 3-78, Saifuddin 2-64). CHITTAGONG
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