Shamsur blazes to century

Shamsur Rahman slammed a splendid 125 as GP-BCB National Cricket Academy made a bright start against Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI in the first four-dayer in Dambulla yesterday.
The tourists were 339 for five at stumps of the first day thanks to Shamsur's brilliant hundred.
The visitors made a good start when openers Imrul Kayes (45) and Mahbubul Karim (24) added 52 before the aggressive right-hander Karim gave off-spinner Suraj an easy wicket after slamming him for a six in the previous delivery.
Shamsur went in to bat at number three and shared a 38-run partnership with Imrul Kayes before the left-hander got out in the last over before lunch break to good delivery from leg-spinner Prassana.
Skipper Nayeem Islam struck 20 from 26 balls but his careless dismissal put the team in trouble at 125 for three.
Marshall Ayub then came in and made 78 and batted well in tandem with Shamsur.
Farhad Hossain remained not out on 15 and was accompanied by Suharwardi Shuvo, who was on 15.