Riyad shines in gloomy opening day

♦ Rain played spoilsport on the opening day of the 21st edition of the National Cricket League yesterday. While the two matches outside Dhaka were completely called off due to rain and wet outfield, the two matches in the capital were also interrupted by rain.

♦ Dhaka Metroplis' all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad got the better of his national teammate Tamim Iqbal as the left-handed star opener struggled on his return to competitive cricket after more than two months following a break.

The opening-day fixtures of the 21st edition of the National Cricket League (NCL) were all marred due to rain yesterday. The first day's play between Barishal Division and Sylhet Division in Rajshahi and Khulna Division's encounter against Rangpur Division in Khulna were completely washed out due to rain and a wet outfield.

The two other matches that took place in Dhaka were also interrupted by rain. All-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad shone for Dhaka Metro as they held Chattogram Division to 147 for three in the 51 overs played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. In the other game in Fatullah, Dhaka Division were reduced to 143 for seven in 51.5 overs by defending champions Rajshahi Division before rain had the final say.

It was the duel between two national stars -- opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Mahmudullah -- that was the highlight of the day. Tamim, playing competitive cricket after a break of more than two months, featured for Chattogram. The star left-handed opener, who had a torrid time during Bangladesh's Sri Lanka tour last July, was nowhere near his best. While his partner Sadiqur Rahman played comfortably to score a 69-ball 51 before being dismissed in the 22nd over off a Mahmudullah delivery, a shaky Tamim at the other end bided his time and could not get into the groove.

Tamim could only manage 30 off 105 balls at a strike rate of 28.57 before national teammate Mahmudullah ended his misery. Tamim, attempting to break the shackles with a pull miscued the shot and Mahmudullah completed an easy catch as the ball got the elevation and not the distance. Mahmudullah also took the other wicket that fell on the day, returning impressive figures of three for 40 in 18 overs.

In Fatullah, two other national players shone with the ball. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and pacer Shafiul Islam accounted for all seven Dhaka wickets as Rajshahi ended the day in control. While Taijul scalped four wickets for 55 in 20.5 overs, Shafiul ended the day with figures of three for 40 in 17 overs. For Dhaka, opener Rony Talukdar – who featured in one T20I for Bangladesh in 2015 -- scored a team high of 63 from 114 balls.

SCORES IN BRIEF

CHATTOGRAM V DHAKA METRO

Chattogram: First innings 147 for 3 (Tamim 30, Sadiqur 51, Pinak 30 not out; Mahmudullah 3-40)

DHAKA V RAJSHAHI

Dhaka: First innings 143 for 7 (Rony 63, Joyraz 35; Shafiul 3-40, Taijul 4-55)