Eventful start to NCL

Two of the opening day matches of the 19th National Cricket League belonged to the batsmen with three centuries being struck, the bowlers ruled the roost in another encounter, while rain also played its part as no play was possible in the Tier 1 game between Dhaka Division and Barisal Division because of a wet outfield in Cox's Bazar yesterday.

After a below-par comeback in the domestic circuit since returning to cricket following a three-year ban for match-fixing, Ashraful started his second season back in fine fashion as the right-hander struck a hundred for Dhaka Metro against Chittagong Division in the Tier 1 game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong.

The 33-year-old struck his 19th first-class hundred and first since his 190 against Sri Lanka in Galle in March 2013. He had scored his last domestic ton earlier in January 2013, when he hit 133 for Central Zone against North Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League.

The former Bangladesh captain added 174 runs for the fifth wicket with Mehrab Hossain Jnr after Dhaka Metro were in a spot of bother at four for 74 runs after electing to bat.

Ashraful was finally caught behind for 104 off 194 balls featuring 12 fours and two sixes, becoming the second victim of left-arm seamer Mehedi Hasan Rana while Mehrab remained unbeaten on 65 alongside Sharifullah as Dhaka Metro finished the day on 257 for five.

At the Sheikh Abu Nasir Stadium in Khulna, twin centuries from skipper Naeem Islam and wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman Ghosh positioned Rangur Division towards a big first innings total against holders Khulna Division in the other Tier 1 match.

Home pacer Al Amin Hossain picked up the early wickets of Jahid Javed and Mahmudul Hasan. Opener Saymon Ahmed scored a fifty, but he became the first of three victims of veteran left-arm spinner and Khulna skipper Abdur Razzak to leave the side struggling on 94 for three.

But national discard Naeem, who played his last international game in 2014, continued his brilliant run in the domestic circuit and started to repair the early damage. However, Rangpur kept losing wickets at the other end -- Nasir Hossain fell to Razzak for a duck and Ariful Haque was dismissed by Al Amin after scoring 30. Naeem then paired up with Dhiman Ghosh and added 148 runs for the sixth wicket, with both batsmen striking centuries.

Dhiman smashed his 12th first class hundred and was finally dismissed by Razzak  after scoring 105 off 117 balls with 14 fours and a six. Naeem, on the other hand, was composed and remained unbeaten after facing 225 deliveries for his 120, studded with nine fours and a six, as Rangpur ended the day on 325 for six.

National ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was also in action in the match, playing his first competitive game since July's Champions Trophy, but his 13 overs on the first day did not yield a wicket and conceded 56 runs.

At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, rain delayed the start of the Tier 2 game, but there was enough time for Sylhet Division to lose wickets at regular intervals against the hosts. Skipper Imtiaz Hossain top-scored with 38 as Sylhet ended the day on 112 for nine. Left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib picked up three wickets while seamers Forhad Reza and Muktar Ali took two wickets each.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

DHAKA METRO VS CHITTAGONG

DHAKA METRO: 257 for 5 (Ashraful 104, Mehrab 65 not out; Mehedi Hasan Rana 2-47, Shakhawat Hossain 2-56 ) 

KHULNA VS RANGPUR

RANGPUR: 325 for 6 (Naeem 120 not out, Dhiman 104; Al Amin Hossain 3-50, Razzak 3-87) 

RAJSHAHI VS SYLHET

123 for 9 ( Imtiaz Hossain 38; Saqlain Sajib 3-24, Muktar Ali 2-12, Forhad Reza 2-30)

DHAKA VS BARISAL

First day abandoned due to wet outfield without a ball being bowled