‘Bowler’ Mithun springs a surprise

Mohammad Mithun, known as a middle-order-batter and wicketkeeper, can now be recognised as a bowler as well as he grabbed a seven-wicket haul for Khulna Division in their Tier-1 encounter against Dhaka Division on the third day of the final round of the 23rd National Cricket League at BKSP yesterday.

Dhaka got their second innings off to a flying start as Abdul Mazid and Rony Talukdar strung a 139-run opening partnership before both of them got picked by Mithun. Then Mithun ran through the entire batting line-up of Dhaka as seven out of the eight wickets of Dhaka division were collected by the occasional off-break bowler. Dhaka declared their second winnings posting 256 for eight.

Khulna will resume the final day on seven as they need 372 runs to win with all wickets remaining.

In another Tier-1 match in BKSP, resuming the day on 90, Amit Hasan played a patient 186-run knock off 422 balls for Sylhet while putting an emphatic 243-run partnership with skipper Zakir Hasan, who scored 126 runs against Rangpur Division, who are topping the table of Tier-1. Sylhet posted 455 runs for five before stumps were called. Nasir Hossain scalped a couple of wickets for Rangpur.

Meanwhile, at Sylhet Academy Ground, Rajshahi posted 421 in their Tier-2 encounter against Barishal, leading by 88 runs ahead of the final day. Rajshahi's Farhad Reza scored 99 runs before being shown the way by Ruyel Miah, who scalped a fifer for Barishal.

In another match in Sylhet, Chattogram Division resumed the day on 24 runs against Dhaka Metropolis. Middle-order-batter Shahadat Hossain remained unbeaten on 97 as he guided his side to 221 for five. They now lead by 186 runs ahead of the final day as they look to get promoted to Tier-1.