Gazi spins East into disarray

Prime Bank South Zone off-spinner Shohag Gazi, who had figures of 6 for 66, bowls during the second day of their second-round Bangladesh Cricket League match against Islami Bank East Zone at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Off-spinner Shohag Gazi, along with veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, spun Prime Bank South Zone to a position of strength against Islami Bank East Zone at the end of the second day of the second round of the Bangladesh Cricket League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Gazi, the new sensation in Bangladesh cricket after his impressive debut against West Indies, inflicted the maximum damage by taking six wickets while Razzak grabbed the rest to ensure South Zone's slim 16-run first innings lead.
At the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, Mohammad Ashraful got back among the runs after a long break and remained not out on 48 as Walton Central Zone survived a Sajedul Islam scare in reply to BCB North Zone's 361.
SOUTH ZONE v EAST ZONE
Nafis Iqbal and Mominul Haque joined the club of wasting three-digit opportunities as the former national opener scored 83 and his young colleague Mominul was dismissed for 78. The pair's effort was however not good enough for East Zone to surpass their opponents' total as Gazi and Razzak ripped through their batting.
South Zone finished the day in a commanding position as Anamul Haque, who missed an opportunity of scoring a hundred in the first innings, continued his good form with an unbeaten 65 and Soumya Sarker accompanied him with 48 as South Zone scored 129 for one to ensure a 145-run lead at stumps.
NORTH ZONE v CENTRAL ZONE
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim hit an unbeaten 76 off 107 balls that contained seven fours and two sixes as North Zone amassed 361 before being all out after resuming the day on 280 for five.
In reply, Central Zone made a poor start, losing four wickets for 88 runs but Ashraful and Mehrab Hossain salvaged the situation, putting on an unbeaten 82 for the fifth wickets.
National pacer Shafiul Islam gave the early breakthrough, removing Shuvagoto Hom and then out-of-favour pacer Sajedul claimed three wickets to inflict the damage in the Central Zone innings.
SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH ZONE: First innings 248 all out and Second innings 129-1 in 37 overs (Kayes 12, Anamul 65 not out, Soumya 48 not out, extras 4; Taposh 1-16). EAST ZONE: First innings 232 all out 65.3 overs ( Nafis Iqbal 83, Mominul 78, extras 22; Shohag 6-66, Razzak 4-63).
NORTH ZONE: First innings 361 all out in 111.5 overs (Junaed 78, Farhad 72, Naeem 36, Mushfiqur 76 not out, Shafiul 22, extras 9; Elias Sunny 3-80, Shahadat 2-43, Mosharraf 2-122). CENTRAL ZONE: First innings 170 for four in 64.4 overs (Shamsur 15, Rokibul 26, Marshal 40, Ashraful 48 not out, Mehrab 36 not out; Sajedul 3-45).