Three tons and a Taskin fifer
While the national players in Rawalpindi were struggling to score runs, the scenario at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium Academy Ground in Cox’s Bazar yesterday was the opposite. Three of the South Zone batsmen smashed tons against East Zone on the opening day of the second round of the ongoing Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL).
Powered by centuries from Anamul Haque, Nurul Hasan and Mahedi Hasan, South Zone finished the day on top, scoring 443 for six before the day’s play ended prematurely due to bad light. Things however did not look so bright for South Zone at the start. The BCB-run team lost three wickets very early in the innings and were struggling at three for 16 after six overs. Al-Amin and Anamul did start the rebuilding process but Al-Amin’s departure in the 15th over after a 30-ball 18 again put South Zone in a spot of bother.
It was then a 190-run fourth wicket stand between Anamul and Nurul followed by another 175-run fifth wicket stand between Nurul and Mahedi that changed the whole complexion of the game. Anamul laced his 155-ball 129 with 14 boundaries and four maximums before falling to a run-out in the 58th over. Mahedi was even more gutsy and aggressive as the 25-year-old, who had made a name for himself for big hitting in the last Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League while playing for Dhaka Platoon, smashed 10 boundaries and eight maximums during his quick-fire 85-ball 112. Meanwhile, Nurul was a bit more calm and collected, evidenced by his unbeaten 155 off 220 balls.
In Sylhet, it was pacer Taskin Ahmed’s fifer that helped North Zone bundle out Central Zone for 170 before North Zone went on to score 89 for three at the close. Taskin, who picked up three quick wickets in his opening spell that had Central Zone reeling at four for eight after 5.2 overs, ended with figures of five for 54 in 14 overs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH ZONE: First innings 443 for 6 (Anamul 129, Nurul 155 not out, Mahedi 112; Rejaur 3-79)
EAST ZONE:
CENTRAL ZONE: First innings 170 all out (Rakibul 70, Shuvagata 21, Jaker 19, Arafat 25 not out; Sakil 2-35, Taskin 5-54)
NORTH ZONE: First innings 89 for 3 (Rony 19, Junaid 47, Naeem 18 not out; Arafat 1-8, Shuvagata 1-1)
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