BCL starts with a Zia bang

Big-hitting batsman Ziaur Rahman flays one of his fifteen sixes, a record equalling feat in any first-class competition, on the opening day of the newly launched Bangladesh Cricket League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Zia struck an unbeaten 152 for South Zone against Central Zone in the franchisee-based four-day competition.Photo: STAR

Ziaur Rahman's near record-equalling effort got the newly-designed Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) off to an explosive start yesterday as the hard-hitting Prime Bank South Zone batsman hogged the spotlight by smashing a furious, unbeaten hundred at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
The right-hander fell only one short of matching the first-class world record of 16 sixes, earlier set by Andrew Symonds (for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan, Abergavenny, 1995), Graham Napier (for Essex against Surrey, Whitgift School, 2011) and Jesse Ryder (for New Zeal against Australia A, Brisbane, 2011).
Zia might have missed the record but what he did in the chilly afternoon was without any doubt a rare batting achievement on the domestic scene and it is hard to imagine a new tournament getting off to a more auspicious start. His explosive maiden first-class hundred, a 118-ball 152 that contained 15 big sixes and seven boundaries, helped Prime Bank South Zone to recover from a dismal batting start to finish the day on a happy note against Walton Central Zone as they scored 343 in 73 overs before being all out. The fireworks from the blade of Zia, known as a T20 specialist, outshone the five-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain.
It was a truncated day as the start was delayed due to fog while play also ended early with the Central Zone opening batsmen returning to the dressing room without facing any ball on account of bad light.
In the day's other match at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, the BCB North Zone put in a strong batting display against Islami Bank East Zone as they scored 294 for four before stumps were drawn for the day.
PRIME BANK SOUTH ZONE V WALTON CENTRAL ZONE
Last batsman Murad Khan offered a return catch to occasional spinner Mehrab Hossain to stop Zia's surge against the Central Zone bowlers and dashing his hopes of reaching a rare milestone. Before that however Murad did a tremendous job to make sure that his partner could complete his maiden hundred. Murad didn't score any runs but survived for 25 balls and shared a 93-run partnership with Zia, who simply put the opposition bowlers to the sword. Except pacer Talha Jubayer, who was not given the old ball, all the bowlers were punished by the right-hander, who came to bat at number seven. Zia almost single handedly took the score to 343 runs from 192 for eight but credit must also go to Murad and Rubel Hossain, who shared a 58-run partnership with Zia for the ninth wicket, for keeping their senior partner company.
The well-built Zia effortlessly pulled off all his punishing shots which mostly sailed over the area between mid-wicket and long-on. It was fantastic to watch the way he hooked pacer Shahadat Hossain for six to complete his fifty in 66 balls that saw two fours and five sixes. And the opposition bowlers also continuously supplied the deliveries in his comfort zone, allowing an in-form batsman to easily clear the rope.
His barnstorming innings was a source of frustration for Central Zone skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, especially as his team had South Zone in trouble at 149 for five. At one point during Zia's assault, the Central skipper kicked the stumps out of the ground at the non-striker's end after having collected a wayward throw.
Before his dashing knock it was all about poor shot selections from the South Zone batsmen as almost all the batsmen threw away their wickets after being well set in the middle. Mosharraf did the major damage picking up five wickets for 52 runs.
South Zone is being led by stand-in skipper Imrul Kayes after regular skipper Abdur Razzak withdrew from the match due to personal reasons.
BCB NORTH ZONE V ISLAMI BANK EAST ZONE
Taposh Baishya gave East Zone an early break-through but a 131-run second wicket partnership between Forhad Hossain and opener Jahurul Islam gave North Zone a strong foundation to dominate the first day.
Jahurul (79) and Forhad (60) returned to the dressing room in quick succession but captain Mushfiqur Rahim joined Naeem Islam to repair the damage with an 87-run fourth wicket partnership.
Mushfiqur was trapped in front by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque for 48 runs but Naeem was unbeaten on 58.
Taposh claimed three wickets.
SCORES IN BRIEF
PRIME BANK SOUTH ZONE: First innings 343 all out in 73 overs (Imrul 42, Mithun 37, Tushar 30, Rabbi 25, Ziaur 152 not out, Gazi 15, Rubel 15, extras 11; Shahadat 2-68, Talha 1-31, Sunny 1-76, Mosharraf 5-52, Mehrab 1-23)
BCB NORTH ZONE: First innings 294-4 in 86.1 overs (Jahurul 79, Junaed 3, Forhad 60, Naeem 58 not out, Mushfiqur 48, Nasir 22 not out, extras 24; Taposh 3-40, Enamul 1-91).