Three tons and a wicket-fest
It was another memorable day of cricket as three centuries were struck alongside some batting collapses on the second day of the first round of the 19th National Cricket League yesterday.
Twin tons from Rony Talukder and Saif Hasan steered Dhaka Division towards a big first innings total as they posted 309 for two against Barisal Division in the Tier 1 match after the previous day was abandoned due to a wet outfield following overnight showers at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar.
Right-handers Rony and Abdul Majid scored 83 runs for the opening stand before the latter was dismissed for 31. However, Rony and Saif banded together and added 141 runs for the second wicket.
Rony scored his eighth first class century but was stumped off Monir Hossain after scoring 121 off 195 balls with half a dozen sixes and eight fours.
Saif, the Bangladesh Under-19 captain, registered his third first class hundred and remained unbeaten on 106 off 193, smashing five sixes and nine boundaries while Rakibul Hasan was unbeaten on 45.
At the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi a total of 16 wickets fell on the second day and the Tier 2 match looks destined to produce a result.
Resuming the day on 123 for nine, Sylhet were bowled out for 128 in their first innings. In reply Rajshahi were bundled out for just 79 runs in 27.4 overs courtesy of some brilliant bowling from left arm spinner Sayem Alam, who ended up with figures of six for 32. Abul Hasan aided him with three wickets as Sylhet took a crucial first innings lead of 49 runs.
However Sylhet found themselves in a spot of bother after losing five wickets for just fifty runs in their second innings before stumps were drawn. Forhad Reza bagged two wickets to keep Sylhet's lead to 139 for the moment.
In the other Tier 2 encounter Dhaka Metro are in the driving seat despite having lost two early wickets and ending the second day on 12 for three as they have a lead of 226 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
Earlier Dhaka were bowled out for 344 after resuming the day on 257 for five after Mohammad Ashraful struck a century after four years in the first innings.
After the exchange young left-arm spinner Nihaduzzaman bagged five wickets to bundle Chittagong out for just 130.
At the Sheikh Abu Nasir Stadium in Khulna holders Khulna replied well on the second day after riding on an unbeaten 185-run opening stand between Anamul Haque and Robiul Islam in a Tier 1 match.
Wicket-keeper batsman Anamul, who was among the contenders for the Tigers' squad for the South Africa series according to the BCB president, struck his 13th first class hundred and was unbeaten on 105 off 171 with eleven fours while Robiul was on 67.
Ranpur had earlier posted a huge first innings score of 471 before being bowled out after resuming the day on 325 for six. Rangpur's overnight centurion Naeem Islam was finally dismissed yesterday after scoring a brilliant 135 off 249 balls with a dozen fours and a six.