Run-fest goes on
The National Cricket League may be taking place miles away from Australia and New Zealand and might be receiving one-tenth of the attention compared to that of the World Cup, however, it's all happening in the league.
From double-centuries, which were previously as rare as pearls from oysters, being scored at a freakish rate and the former national cricketers pounding in the runs to Mohammad Shahid doing an Abul Hossain by scoring a century at number ten, the fourth round of the NCL has spiced up a notch after the second day.
For the first time in the competition, league leaders Dhaka ended the first innings of a match on the backfoot after they were reduced to 53 for 2 at the end of play yesterday. Former national cricketers Rajin Saleh (181) and Alok Kapali (175) shared a 348-run stand for the fourth wicket to bamboozle the league leaders. While both of them missed out on their double centuries, Tushar Imran cashed in on the opportunity. The former national batsman, who had earlier posted a patient 177 in the league, played out a patient, unbeaten 203 for Khulna at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur. He was accompanied well by Ziaur Rahman's 164, who joined in the fun with seven sixes. The pair shared a 295-run stand for the sixth wicket to catapult Khulna to 560 for 6 before declaring. They took complete control of the game by chipping in with two wickets to reduce Rajshahi to 63 for 2.
Runs were scored in the other parts of the country as well, as Rangpur buoyed by Naeem Islam's patient 147 posted 518 at the BKSP. Their bowlers too managed to take two of Barisal's wickets before the end of play.
There was special praise reserved for Dhaka Metro's pacer Mohammad Shahid at the BKSP' ground number 2, who hammered a century at number ten and help Metro rise from 382 for 9 to 496. The last wicket stand was worth 114.
Scores in brief
SYLHET: 500 all out in 161.1 overs (Rajin 181, Alok 175; Mosharraf 5-109, Sharif 2-85) v
DHAKA: 53 for 2 (Abdul 33 not out; Nazmul 1-18)
RANGPUR: 518 for 9 dec (Liton 175, Naeem 147; Shohag 4-137, Nasum 4-144) v
BARISAL: 62 for 2 (Fazle 28; Shubasish 1-16)
DHAKA METRO: 496 all out in 143.2 overs (Marshall 113, Shahid 102; Nur 6-150) v
CHITTAGONG: 98 for 5 (Tasamul 43; Elias 2-23, Saykat 2-21)
KHULNA: 560 for 6 dec (Tushar 203 not out, Ziaur 164; Saqlain 3-164) v
RAJSHAHI: 63 for 2 (Habibur 28; Mustafizur 1-13, Razzak 1-28)
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