Shamsur Rahman staved off the disciplined Pakistan Cricket Academy bowling attack to ensure GP-BCB National Cricket Academy (NCA) were still batting after the end of the first day in the second four-day match at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium yesterday.
Put into bat, NCA scored 260-9 in 76 overs before the umpires decided it was too dark to continue the day's play. Shamsur, a right-handed batsman, struck 82 off 169 balls and was unbeaten alongside number eleven Sajidul Islam, who was yet to open his account.
After the Pakistani pace quartet dominated proceedings before and after the lunch interval, Shamsur came into bat with his side in a spot of bother at 86-4. He added 76 for the sixth wicket with Nadif Chowdhury, who scored 29 off 48 balls. Later, he shepherded the NCA lower-order to make sure his side would bat into the second day of the four-day match. Shamsur slammed nine boundaries in his 215-minute knock.
Earlier, only Nayeem Islam among the top-order batsmen batted with aplomb as he scored a rapid 40-ball 40 with nine boundaries.
For the visitors, fast bowler Anwar Ali and leg-spinner Yasir Shah took three wickets each.
SCORES IN BRIEF
NCA: First innings 260-9 in 76 overs (Shamsur 82*, Nayeem 40, Anwar 3-57, Yasir 3-38).