Batsmen rule Mirpur, bowlers control Rajshahi

If the first session saw stubborn batting from centurions Jahurul Islam and Ariful Haque, the last session featured scintillating stroke play from Liton Das on the second day of the fifth-round Bangladesh Cricket League match between North Zone and East Zone at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Under the moderate afternoon sunlight, Liton exhibited some brilliant back-foot punches and it was thrilling to watch the way the right-hander smote left-arm spinner Taijul Islam over midwicket and pacer Shafiul Islam over square-leg. Liton remained unbeaten on 52 and his opening partner Tasamul Haque kept him company with 49.

If batsmen hogged the spotlight at Mirpur as East Zone ended the day on 110 for no loss in reply to North Zone's 415, veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak dictated terms at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. However, despite the seasoned campaigner Razzak's six for 106, his 32nd five-for in first-class cricket, Central Zone took a handsome 111-run first innings lead against South Zone thanks to Shadman Islam's 93 and Irfan Sukkur's 54.

Back in Mirpur, the battle of the table-toppers spiced up. Skipper Jahurul Islam and his partner-in-crime in a 184-run sixth-wicket stand, Ariful Haque, stroked centuries as leaders North, resuming the day on 204 for five, posted an impressive 415 before being bowled out in the first over after the tea break. Jahurul struck 113, his 13th first-class century, while Ariful's 101 was his seventh first-class ton.

Jahurul, who started the day on 43, hit a dozen boundaries in his 238-ball innings while Ariful, who resumed on 14, once against demonstrated his growing reputation as a pace bowling all-rounder with an equally impressive century that contained seven fours and a six.

But the final session of the day belonged to East as they raced to 110 for no loss in 27 overs. On-song wicketkeeper-batsman Liton hit six fours and two sixes in his 70-ball knock. Tasamul Haque also played with authority at the other end on a green-top and scored an unbeaten 49 off 92 balls laced with six fours. It was certainly an ideal start for East in their attempt to overtake North's 415.

At Rajshahi, Central Zone tightened their grip with a first-innings lead and took one wicket in South Zone's second innings. South ended the day on 50 for one -- still 61 runs behind Central's first innings.  South lost their opener Fazle Mahmud (9) in the final session but the experienced Anamul Haque (31) and Imrul Kayes (10) held the fort together for the rest of the day.

Earlier, resuming on 154 for two after a delayed start due to a wet outfield, Central Zone lost overnight batsman Marshall Ayub quickly as he fell victim of a run-out after adding one run to his overnight score of 14.

22-year-old left-hander Shadman, who started the day on 66, however scored 93 off 176 balls in his side's first-innings total of 302. The opening batsman missed what could have been his third first-class century by seven runs. But his effort opened up the prospect of Central's first win after Ebadat Hossain's four-for bowled South out for 191 on the first day.

Shadman struck 12 fours in his polished knock. Wicketkeeper-batsman Irfan Sukkur also scored a vital 55 off 70 balls down the order. Despite Razzak's six wickets for South, they have a tall task to avoid their first defeat after four draws.

The inspiring aspect for South is that they have got a long and tested batting line-up, which is needed to come to the party if they are to stay close to the title race.

SCORES IN BRIEF

BCB NORTH ZONE V ISLAMI BANK EAST ZONE

North Zone: First innings 415 (Mizanur 46, Nazmul 73, Jahurul 113, Ariful 101, Taijul 30; Shohag 4-91, Ashraful 2-63)

East Zone: First innings 110 for no loss (Tasamul 49 not out, Liton 52 not out)

PRIME BANK SOUTH ZONE V WALTON CENTRAL ZONE

South Zone: First innings 191 and second innings 50 for 1 (Anamul 31 not out, Imrul 10 not out; Tanbir 1-5)

Central Zone: First innings 302 all out (Saif 30, Shadman 93, Mazid 44, Tanbir 22, Irfan 54, Mosharraf 28; Nayeem 3-83, Razzak 6-106)