4 tons, 1 double and a 7-for

It was an action-packed third day of the first round of the 20th National Cricket League with four hundreds, a double hundred and a seven-wicket haul being registered yesterday.

Having been bundled out for just 210 in the first innings, Khulna staged a comeback against hosts Rajshahi in their second innings riding on Tushar Imran's second hundred of the game in the Tier-1 match at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium.

Tushar scored 104 in the first innings and went on to smash an unbeaten century while Anamul Haque was not out on 72 as Khulna ended the third day on 182 for two. But saving the match will be a daunting task as they still trail by 160 after Rajshahi posted a mammoth 552 in their first innings.

Earlier, resuming the third day on 446 for six, skipper Jahurul Islam struck his 14th first-class hundred and remained unbeaten on 163 off 290 balls with 20 fours, helping build a first-innings lead of 342 runs.

Young Afif Hossain ended up with figures of seven for 66 from 21 overs for Khulna -- the 19-year-old off-spinner's  maiden first-class five-wicket haul.

At the Shaheed Chandu stadium in Bogura, Barishal replied to Rangpur's first innings 502 by reaching 384 for five at stumps in the other Tier-1 game, after resuming the day on 91 for one.

Overnight batsman Fazle Rabbi struck his seventh first-class ton and was unbeaten on 130 while Sohag Gazi also struck a hundred and was dismissed on 128. The high-scoring game is surely headed for a draw.

In the second tier in Fatullah, Dhaka Division were in a commanding position against Chattogram after Rony Talukdar struck his third first-class double hundred while opening partner Abdul Mazid also struck his eighth ton to post 385 for one and lead by 481 runs at stumps. Earlier, Chattogram were all out for 142.

Resuming the day on 176 without loss, Rony already reached his hundred and went on to smash the double, staying unbeaten on 228 off 252 balls with 18 fours and seven sixes. Rony and Mazid added a record 350-run opening stand before the latter was dismissed for 132.

Sylhet are in a spot of bother in the other Tier-2 encounter against Dhaka Metropolis as they ended the third day on 149 for four in their second innings after being enforced to follow on. Sylhet were all out for 215 after resuming the day on 132 for six.

HIGHLIGHTS

♦ Tushar Imran, the only Bangladeshi batsman to score 10,000 first-class runs, struck hundreds in both innings in the first round of the National Cricket League, hitting his second ton of the match yesterday. It was the 13th occasion in Bangladesh's domestic circuit that a batsman struck hundreds in both innings of a match and Tushar became the only one to achieve the feat twice. He also holds the record for most first-class hundreds by a Bangladeshi with 30.

♦ Young Afif Hossain caught the eye when he became the youngest bowler to pick a T20 five-for for Rajshahi Kings in the Bangladesh Premier league at the age of 17. However the off-spinner was yet to bag a five-wicket haul in first-class cricket until he picked up seven wickets in the first round of the NCL.

♦ Rony Talukdar became the fourth Bangladeshi batsman to strike three double hundreds in first-class cricket after the right-hander scored an unbeaten 228. Rony, along with opener Abdul Mazid, added 350 in the opening stand -- the highest in Bangladesh's first-class completions.

♦ Rajshahi skipper Jahurul Islam led from the front and carried his bat to post a huge total against Khulna to take the driving seat in the ongoing NCL. The right-handed opener smashed his 14th first-class ton and remained unbeaten on 163 as he ran short of partners at the other end.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

KHULNA V RAJSHAHI

Khulna: First Innings 210 all out in 52.3 overs

Rajshahi: First innings 552 all out in 147 overs (Mizanur 115, Forhad 83, Jahurul 163 not out, Sanjamul 64; Afif 7-66)

Khulna: Second innings 183 for 2 in 53 overs (Anamul 72, Tushar 100)

RANGPUR V BARISHAL

Rangpur: First Innings 502 all out in 145.2 overs

Barishal: First innings 384 for 5 in Rafsan 59, Fazle Mahmud 130, Shohag Gazi 128)

Dhaka Division v Chattogram

Dhaka: First innings 238 all out in 81 overs

Chattogram: 142 all out in 53.4 overs

Dhaka: Second innings 385 for 1 dec. in 92 overs (Abdul 132, Talukdar 228 not out)

Chattogram: 135 for 3 in 39 overs (Mominul 62, Tasamul 33 not out)

DHAKA METRO V SYLHET

Dhaka Metro: First innings 426 all out in 122.4 overs

Sylhet: First innings 215 all out in 82 overs (Enamul 91; Arafat 4-62)

Sylhet: Second innings 149 for 4 in 61 overs (Jaker 72, Saleh 53 not out)