Shakib's timely ton

Shakib Al Hasan ensured that he will go into the upcoming Sri Lanka Tests with some runs under his belt.Photo: File Photo

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan returned to form at the right time with a strokeful hundred as Khulna remained in a comfortable position to win the penultimate round of their National Cricket League match against Dhaka on the third day at the Khulna Divisional Stadium yesterday.
The left-hander's 129 guided the home side to 352 runs in their second essay, to set an improbable 527-run winning target for the Mohammad Ashraful-led Dhaka, who finished the day on 204-5, still 323 runs behind the target with just five wickets in hand.
Ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka there was another good news for the national team as Barisal rode on Rokibul Hasan's fine half-century to brighten their chances of a win. It also opened up the title race as Chittagong lost two wickets for 63 in reply to a winning target of 313 at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.
Barisal had more good news as league leaders Rajshahi were kept indoors. The third day's play was abandoned due to dense fog and bad light at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.
KHULNA-DHAKA
Shakib excelled with his left-arm spin in the just-concluded South Africa tour but was off-color with the bat as he scored only 46 runs from four innings and that was the reason of his desperate need for a big score ahead of another tough challenge against Sri Lanka at home.
The 21-year-old left-hander, who holds a very poor average of 22.82, got back his confidence with his third first-class hundred. The Magura lad executed the pull and cut shots during his 145-ball knock rather than his favourite sweep shots and smote 20 boundaries and a six before being bowled by left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain.
Resuming the day on 146-5, Shakib got good support from youngster Raihan Anas as the overnight pair added 202 runs for the sixth wicket stand. Raihan, who smashed thirteen boundaries in his 125-ball essay, missed out on a hundred by ten runs.
"Shakib gave us no chances and played brilliantly. It was nice to see him return among the runs," said Bangladesh captain skipper Ashraful, who made a duck in the second innings. "He mostly played the pull and cut shot during his hundred," added the Dhaka skipper.
"I just got back my confidence," responded Shakib when asked about his innings.
Dhaka made a disaster start in reply to a towering target when Rabiul Islam removed Anamul Haque with the scoreboard reading eight runs and things got worse when the visitors lost three wickets on the score of 40.
Mahmudullah Riyad joined opener Javed Omar to repair the damage as the pair contributed 107 runs for the fifth wicket before the discarded national opener was caught behind off Rabiul after a 109-ball 76 that had 15 boundaries.
Ziaur Rahman and his new-ball partner Rabiul caused the damage as the former picked up three wickets and Robiul took two.
Riyad was batting on 79 and Nadif Chowdhury accompanied him with 26.
CHITTAGONG-BARISAL
Talha Jubair produced a little whirlwind after Rokibul's patient effort to take the match away from the home side. Pacer Tariq Aziz and left-armer Mohammad Younus equally shared eight wickets but their efforts were not enough for Chittagong to take control.
Number ten Talha smashed four boundaries and three big sixes to make 45 off 31 deliveries and Rokibul contributed 77 off 112 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes as Barisal were all out for 266 after resuming the day on 93-2.
Chasing 313 runs, the home side lost their openers Masumudowla and Nafis Iqbal with the score on 36 and finished the day on 63 for 2 with Rezaul Karim (11) and Tariq Ahmed (15) still at the crease.
BRIEF SCORES
KHULNA: First Innings 355 and Second innings (overnight 146-5) 352 all out in 77.4 overs (Sadat 26, Kayes 14, Sahagir 19, Tushar 35, Shakib 129, Nahidul 0, Anas 90, Zia 8, Dollar 2, Salim 7 not out, Robiul 9, extras 9; Shahadat 1-65, Mahbubul 2-58, Arafat 1-60, Riyad 3-47, Marshal 1-30, Mehrab 2-37).
DHAKA: First Innings (overnight 38-2) 181-9 dec and Second innings 204-5 in 43 overs (Javed 76, Anamul 4, Marhsal 10, Ashraful 0, Mehrab 0, Riyad 79 not out, Nadif 26 not out, extras 9; Zia 3-37, Robiul 2-60).
BARISAL: First Innings 244 and Second innings (overnight 93 for 2) 266 all out in 81.5 overs (Shaheen 14, Nasiruddin 36, Hannan 36, Tariqul 0, Imran 5, Rokibul 77, Nasir 20, Salahuddin 4, Sajidul 18 not out, Talha 45, Saju 0, extras 11; Tareq 4-86, Younus 4-51, Yasin 2-61)
CHITTAGONG: First Innings (overnight 52-1) 198 and Second innings 63-2 in 23 overs (Masum 19, Nafis 10, Rezaul 11 not out, Tariq 15 not out, extras 8; Tariqul 1-17, Salahuddin 1-9).
RAJSHAHI: First Innings (overnight 56-5) 264.
SYLHET: First innings 1-0 in 4 overs.