Tushar's timely ton
A combo of pictures shows Chittagong's Gazi Salahuddin taking a bow upon reaching his hundred against Sylhet at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium while Khulna's Tushar Imran (R) returns to dressing room after his unbeaten 122 against Barisal at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. They are the two star performers on the opening day of the fifth round matches of the National League yesterday. Photo: STAR
Tushar Imran came up with an unbeaten hundred, perhaps at the right time with the national selection knocking at the doors, as Khulna got off to a perfect start in the fifth round of the 9th National Cricket League yesterday.
The first day's play of all three four-day matches began after observing one-minute silences to pay tribute to the people killed by Cyclone Sidr.
The in and out dashing middle-order batsman Tushar remained not out on 122 and inform Shakib Al Hasan smashed 81 as the table-toppers amassed 312-6 against home side Barisal at close of play at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
On a batsmen-dominated day, Gazi Salahuddin was Chittagong's hero as the home team rode on his 138 to finish on 289 for nine against struggling Sylhet at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.
Away at Rajshahi, former national skipper Khaled Mashud continued his impressive form to stake a claim for an international return for the upcoming tour to New Zealand as his unbeaten 68 helped the hosts make 257-5 against Dhaka.
KHULNA v BARISAL
The inserted Khulna made a dismal start when they lost openers Nazmus Sadat and Imrul Kayes for 25 runs.
The situation got worse when captain Habibul Bashar (13) left the field due to aggravating an old shoulder injury. Although a local physician has suggested Bashar to take a week's rest, the former national captain is expected to bat today if he feels well.
Afterwards, left-handed Shakib joined Tushar to halt any further damage by associating in a 134-run stand.
Shakib clubbed one six and 14 boundaries during his 105-ball knock but Tushar, who had managed only one half century from the last four rounds, kept cool to take a new guard on the second day.
Tushar, who has nine first-class hundreds under his belt, smote 20 boundaries during his 5-hour-plus vigil facing 244 balls. Ziaur Rahman accompanied him on 20.
Barisal pacer Talha Jubair claimed two wickets for 39 runs.
CHITTAGONG v SYLHET
Chittagong recovered from an early hiccup after deciding to bat first on a batting friendly surface as Salahuddin and Aftab Ahmed shared 101 runs for the third wicket stand.
Right-handed opener Salahuddin, who had a good record in the first-class competition with four previous hundreds, occupied the crease for 345 minutes to make 138 off 269 balls featuring 17 fours and a six before being bowled by pacer Tapash Baisya.
Aftab made 46 off 72 balls with four boundaries and a six before Nabil Samad, the most successful bowler with 4- 60, removed him.
Chittagong failed to capitalise on the century partnership as they lost their last five wickets for only 56 runs.
RAJSHAHI v DHAKA
A 124-run fifth wicket partnership between veterans Mashud and Mushfiqur Rahman kept Rajshahi smiling at the end.
Rajshahi top-order batsmen got the start but failed to carry on except Farhad Hossain, who contributed 55 off 135 balls with seven hits to the fence.
It was however, Mashud, who consolidated his team's position with a patient 198-ball 68 that saw ten boundaries while all-rounder Mushfiqur added 65 off 102 balls with six fours and a six.
SCORES IN BRIEF
KHULNA: First innings- 312-6 in 90 overs (Nazmus 3, Imrul 0, Habibul 13rh, Shakib 81, Mostafizur 29, Sahagir 1, Mashrafe 17, Tushar 122*, Ziaur 20*; Talha 2-39, Abul Bashar 1-19, Sajidul 1-56, Arafat 1-60)
CHITTAGONG: First innings- 289-9 in 92 overs (Nafis 9, Salahuddin 138, Nazimuddin 0, Aftab 46, Ehsanul 30, Faisal 11, Dhiman 7, Arafat 1, Tareq 5, Kamrul 8*, Saju 7*; Nabil 4-60, Rashedul 2-67, Alok 1-18, Tapash 1-42, Enamul 1-74).
RAJSHAHI: First innings- 257-5 in 90 overs (Zunaed 18, Jahirul 19, Naeem 19, Farhad Hossain 55, Mushfiqur 65, Khaled Mashud 68*, Alamgir 2*; Sharif 2-51, Niaz 1-40, Mahbubul 1-43, Mosharraf 1-45).
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