Liton strikes ton ahead of Pakistan Test

North Zone batsman Liton Das struck an unbeaten ton on the fourth day of the Bangladesh Cricket League match against South Zone as the four-day fixture concluded in a draw at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.

South Zone had taken a huge 432-run lead on day three thanks to a treble of tons from Nafees Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman and Mahmudullah Riyad. With South Zone's Shafiul Islam breathing fire in the first innings, picking up six wickets for 40 runs including a four-fer in a single over, the task was always going to be difficult for North Zone on the fourth and final day.

Liton Das came in to bat at the fall of opener Mizanur Rahman before seeing Rony Talukdar depart soon after, notched a 125-run partnership with left-hander Junaid Siddique for the third wicket. Liton struck his 100 in 165 deliveries during a three-hour plus stay at the crease. Facing against the likes of national team teammates Shafiul Islam and Al Amin Hossain, Liton powered his ton with nine fours and two sixes and persevered until the end of the day to remain unbeaten on 103 at stumps as the match was drawn.

The ton is a welcome one for the Tigers' batsman ahead of the important first Test against Pakistan on February 7 with the team departing tomorrow evening at 7 pm. It was Liton's 15th ton in first-class cricket and the century took him over the 5000-run landmark in first-class cricket. 

In the other BCL match at Chattogram, East Zone defeated Central Zone by an innings and nine runs on the fourth and final day. East Zone, who secured a huge lead following Tamim Iqbal's triple century, bowled Central Zone out for 333. Mohammad Mithun hit a valiant 83 under pressure but with only seven wickets left, Central Zone struggled to contend with 19-year-old Nayeem Hasan, who picked up a six-fer for 85 runs.