Soumya ton sets up Central Zone

Soumya Sarkar struck the third hundred of the innings to leave Walton Central Zone eyeing a win after declaring the first innings on 563 for 3 on the third day of their Bangladesh Cricket League at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium against BCB North Zone in Chattogram yesterday.

In their second innings, BCB North Zone ended the third day on 172 for 5, still trailing by 172 runs. Resuming the day on 430 for 2, Central Zone took a huge first-innings lead of 344 runs.

Soumya, who was dropped from the national team following a string of poor performances, struck his fourth first-class ton, his first century in first-class cricket after nearly three years. The left-hander struck his last first-class hundred back in February, 2019 against New Zealand.

He resumed the day on 39 and remained unbeaten after a 148-ball 104 featuring ten fours and a six.

Salman Hossain and Mosaddek Hossain also struck fifties for Central Zone.

Earlier, Mizanur Rahman and Mohammad Mithun smashed centuries and added a magnificent 327-run opening stand to lay the platform for a big total.

In reply, North Zone kept losing wickets at regular intervals while opener Tanzid Hasan missed out his hundred by just ten runs as the left-hander was bowled on ninety by left-arm spinner Hasan Murad.

Murad was instrumental for Central Zone, ending with three wickets, while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Robiul Haque picked up a wicket each. North Zone will have the daunting task of saving the game with skipper Marshall Ayub set to resume the final day on 28 runs.

At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Islami Bank East Zone lead by 26 runs in their second innings and will resume the final day on 195 for 5 against BCB South Zone.

South Zone were bowled-out for 429 in reply to East Zone's 260, taking first-innings lead of 169.

Zakir Hasan, who resumed the day on 91, went on to register his ninth first-class hundred before eventually being dismissed on 158 off 276 balls, striking 19 fours and two sixes.

Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful and Nayeem Hasan bagged three wickets each for the bowling side.

Despite adding 62 runs for the opening stand in reply riding on Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Ashraful, East Zone lost their way in the middle.

After picking up five-wicket hauls in the first innings, both left -arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and off-spinner Mahedi Hasan proved instrumental again for South Zone.

Nasum scalped Imrul (39) and Rony Talukdar (12) while Mahedi removed Ashraful (25) and Shahadat Hossain (5) as East Zone were struggling 90 for 4.

Nahidul Islam then removed Nadif Chowdhury before Afif Hossain steadied the ship. He was not out on 75 alongisde Irfan Shukkur, unbeaten on 18.