NCL gets underway

Zahurul Islam drew the first blood with a hundred when the 11th National Cricket League got underway under new format at three different venues across the country yesterday.
Rajshahi made a bold start against Sylhet thanks to a 139-run innings by opener Zahurul as the defending champions ended the first day's play on 300 for four at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.
In the other two games, bowlers dictated terms as Khulna were bundled out for 132 and then restricted their opponents Dhaka to 77 for eight before stumps were drawn for the day while Barisal wrapped up Chittagong for 200 runs and finished the day on 73 for three.
At Fatullah, Nasir Ahmed gave Sylhet a brilliant start by removing Forhad Reza for four runs but their joy was shortlived as captain Khaled Mashud joined Zahurul to steady the ship during their 132-run second wicket stand before the former was trapped in front by Nabil Samad for a 126-ball 56.
Forhad Hossain then came in to share a 123-run third wicket partnership with Zahurul to put Rajshahi in a commanding position. Forhad contributed 53 off 104 balls with five fours while Zahurul hit 18 boundaries and a six during his 268-ball essay.
At the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, left-handed Faisal Hossain slammed 73 off 103 balls that contained 12 fours and a six but his effort was not good enough for Chittagong to put on a decent total on the board as Arafat Salahuddin and Monir Hossain shared six wickets to cause the damage in the port city team's innings.
Salahuddin tormented the top-order by taking three wickets for 37 runs while Monir wrapped up the tail with three for 24 runs.
Out-of-favour paceman Tareq Aziz however claimed two wickets to make sure Chittagong ended the day with some solace as Barisal lost three wickets for 73 runs.
At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, two new ball bowlers Talha Jubair and Mohammad Sharif demolished the Khulna batting line-up by sharing seven wickets.
Talha was the most successful bowler with four for 43 and Sharif picked up three four 32.
Dhaka however failed to cash in on their fine bowling efforts as young paceman Robiul Islam hit hard by taking four wickets for 23 runs in his 10-over spell while other two pace bowlers Ziaur Rahman and Dollar Mahmud took two wickets each as Dhaka were reduced to 77 for eight.

SCORES IN BRIEF
RAJSHAHI v SYLHET
RAJSHAHI: First innings 300 for 4 in 91 overs (Zahurul 139, Forhad 4, Masud 56, Forhad Hossain 53, Nayeem 10 not out, Nasir 22 not out, extras 16; Nasir 2-51)
CHITTAGONG v BARISAL
CHITTAGONG: First innings-200 all out in 59.4 overs (Gazi Salahuddin 28, Faisal 73, Arman 27 not out, extras 8; Arafat Salahuddin 3-37, Monir 3-24)
BARISAL: First innings 73 for 3 in 27 overs (Asif 28 not out, Shaheen 22 not out, extras 6; Tareq 2-16)
DHAKA v KHULNA
KHULNA: First innings 132 all out in 40 overs (Aslam 22, Nizamuddin 22 not out, Zia 20, extras 20; Talha 4-43, Sharif 3-32, Mosharraf 2-21)
DHAKA: First innings-77-8 in 32 overs (Marshal 11, Mosharraf 12 not out, Sharif 12 not out, extras 12; Zia 2-24, Dollar 2-29, Robiul 4-23)