An opening record

Dhaka Division's Abdul Majid (L) and Rony Talukdar scored 314 runs for the first wicket, a record in Bangladesh's first-class cricket, in the second round of the NCL at Fatullah yesterday. Photo: Star

Rony Talukdar emerged as a run-machine as he hit yet another hundred and amassed 314 runs along with Abdul Majid to create a new opening partnership record in the National Cricket League at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Big hundreds from the two openers helped Dhaka Division continue their run-fest as they finished the first day's play in the second round with 360 for two against Dhaka Metro.

On their way to making hundreds, Rony and Majid eclipsed the earlier best opening stand between Rajshahi's Junaed Siddiqui and Mizanur Rahman, who made 277 against Barisal in 2013.

Fresh from his double hundred in the first round, Rony hit 163 off 224 balls, smashing 18 fours and two sixes, before left-arm spinner Elias Sunny stopped his onslaught. Majid remained not out at 173 runs.

At BKSP, it was a show from left-arm spinner and Khulna skipper Abdur Razzak who continued his success with an eight-wicket haul against Barisal. Half centuries from Fazle Rabbi (85), Shahriar Nafees (55) and Al-Amin (64) however improved Barisal's batting from their first game, as they scored 271 runs before being bowled out.

Khulna lost two wickets for 73 runs before stumps were drawn for the day.

In another match at BKSP, Rangpur had a good first day despite left-arm spinner Enamul Haque's four-wicket haul, finishing at 297 for six thanks to Tanvir Haider (73) and Mahmudul Hasan (60).

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, pacer Forhad Reza made Rajshahi's day as his five wickets for 45 runs helped his side wrap up Chittagong's first innings for 209 runs.

Scores in Brief

DHAKA DIVISION: 360-2 in 90 overs (Majid 173 not out, Rony 163; Shohid 1-68, Elias 1-81)
BARISAL: 271 all out in 62.3 overs (Nafees 55, Rabbi 85, Al-Amin 64; Razzak 8-100)

KHULNA: 73-2 in 32 overs (Amit 30, Robi 26)
RANGPUR: 297-6 in 90 overs (Liton 49, Tarik 35, Tanvir 73, Mahmudul 60, Dhiman 27 not out, Ariful 37 not out; Rahatul 2-82, Enamul 4-90)

CHITTAGONG: 209 all out in 91 overs (Irfaan 55, Mamun 33, Nazimuddin 36: Shafiul 2-43, Forhad 5-45, Saqlain 3-25)