NCL one-dayers on
The opening day of the National Cricket League's one-day competition lived up to the battlefield for national team places billing as one of the incumbents -- Rokibul Hasan -- made a firm statement in Barisal's 5-wicket stroll over Sylhet at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi yesterday. Alok Kapali, eyeing a place in the World Cup squad, had earlier made a good start to his season with a half-century.
But Mohammad Ashraful, hoping to return to the Tigers' middle-order as early as the Zimbabwe series, failed when all eyes were on him at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur during Dhaka's 23-run defeat to Chittagong.
But the day's best performance was actually at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra where Sabbir Rahman's century powered Rajshahi to a 111-run victory over Khulna.
DHAKA-CHITTAGONG
The hosts faced a modest run chase after Chittagong stuttered with the bat to reach 215 for 8 in 50 overs.
Openers Rony Talukder and Shamsur Rahman however got out early to give Ashraful the stage along with Mahmudullah Riyad. But the experienced duo did a half-hearted job to cost Dhaka the match ultimately. Ashraful laboured to a 49-ball 40 before slicing an intended cover drive to Mominul Haque at point off Nazmul Islam, ending a 50-run stand with Riyad.
Riyad remained but upon reaching half-century off 90 balls, gave his wicket away, punching one back to Faisal Hossain who took the return catch. He got out in the 41st over with Dhaka needing 55 runs to win and four wickets in hand, but the rest could get only 32, folding for 192 in 47.2 overs.
Chittagong's experienced seamer Tareq Aziz picked up four wickets. With the bat, Faisal made 39 but it was Rezaul Karim's unbeaten 47 that took them past the 200-mark earlier in the day.
RAJSHAHI-KHULNA
Right-hander Sabbir Rahman struck six boundaries and three sixes in his run-a-ball 112 as Rajshahi hammered 301 for seven from 50 overs. Apart from Sabbir's century, skipper Jahurul Islam and Nasir Hossain struck fifties as the experienced Khulna bowlers leaked a lot of runs. Junaed Siddiqui, pointed out by Shakib Al Hasan to score runs in this tournament, made a poor start to his campaign.
Later, Rajshahi's spinners put the skids on Khulna as they shared eight wickets with Sohrawardi Shuvo picking up three and Naeem Islam two.
BARISAL-SYLHET
Only Kapali made the real contribution with the bat as his 82-ball 59 became the cornerstone to Sylhet's modest 210 in 49.4 overs.
Barisal however made a poor start but Rokibul straightened out the chase, scoring an unbeaten 90 off 120 balls with seven boundaries and a six. He found some support from Asif Ahmed, who made 39. The pair shared a 91-run fifth wicket stand that took Barisal very close to victory.
BRIEF SCORES
CHITTAGONG: 215-8 in 50 overs (Reazul 47 not out; Riyad 2-23)
DHAKA: 192 all out in 47.2 overs (Riyad 52; Tareq 4-45)
Result: Chittagong won by 23 runs.
RAJSHAHI: 301-7 in 50 overs (Sabbir 112; Dollar 3-53)
KHULNA: 190 all out in 42.1 overs (Amit 35; Shuvo 3-35)
Result: Rajshahi won by 111 runs.
SYLHET: 210 all out in 49.4 overs (Kapali 59; Rabbi 3-33)
BARISAL: 211-5 in 47.5 overs (Rokibul 90 not out; Raju 2-41)
Result: Barisal won by five wickets.
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