Bowlers rule opening day

On a day dominated by bowlers, Sylhet Division pacer Abu Jayed was the most successful bowler on the first day of the fourth round of the four-day National Cricket League (NCL) matches that began yesterday at four different venues across the country.

Jayed claimed six wickets for 48 runs to dismiss Rajshahi for 204 runs in the second-tier encounter at the Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogra. At stumps, Sylhet however was not in a comfortable position as they ended on 43 for two.

It was veteran pacer Mohammad Sharif who took charge at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium along with slow left-armer Nazmul Islam to bundle Dhaka Metro out for 166 runs in the first-tier game, but Dhaka Division failed to finish the day on a high note as they lost two wickets for 19 runs at stumps. Shadman Islam top-scored with 47, while Mohammad Ashraful scored 39 for Metro.

At BKSP, captain Fazle Mahmud's 95-run innings was not good enough for Barisal to put up a decent first innings total on the board as they were dismissed for 171 runs. Khulna's batsmen however did not spoil the bowlers' party as Mahedi Hasan steered them to 101 for one at close of play. Mahedi was not out on 55.

At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Rangpur bucked the bowler-dominated trend and put up a strong batting display as they scored 315 for seven at stumps against Chittagong.  Out-of-favour batsman Liton Das got back among the runs with a 73-run knock. 

SCORES IN BRIEF 

DHAKA METRO V DHAKA DIV 

DHAKA METRO:  166 all out in 77.1 overs (Shadman 47, Ashraful 39; Sharif 4-35, Nazmul 3-46)

DHAKA DIV: 19-2 in 6.2 overs (Minhaz 8 not out, Rakibul 2 not out)

BARISAL V KHULNA 

BARISAL: 171 all out in 60.4 overs (Fazle 95; Al-Amin 2-40, Ziaur 3-29, Ashikur 3-33, Halder 2-28) 

KHULNA: 101-1 in 20 overs (Mahedi 55 not out, Hasanuzzaman 23, Anamul 15 not out)

RAJSHAHI V SYLHET 

RAJSHAHI: 204 all out in 65.5 overs (Mizanur 32, Farhad 35; Jayed 6-48)

SYLHET: 43-2 in 15 overs (Sayem 30 not out)

RANGPUR V CHITTAGONG 

RANGPUR: 315-7 in 76 overs (Liton 73, Nasir 30, Ariful 52, Shuvo 62 not out; Saifuddin 2-68, Ali 3-64)