Ton-up Anamul, Al Amin Jr bolster South 1st innings
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
A couple of centuries by Anamul Haque Bijoy (not out 155) and Al Amin Junior (110) maneuvered holders Prime Bank South Zone to give them a 114-run lead over BCB North Zone on the day second of the sixth-round fixture of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.
Resuming the day second on 21 for one, South Zone dislodged another two wickets of Fazle Mahmud Rabbi and Rokibul Hasan cheaply while they were tattering at 57 for three.
Anamul Haque Bijoy then attempted to rebuild the innings with fellow batsman and finished the day at 407 for five that gave them 114-run lead after North Zone made 293 in their first innings. En route to his unbeaten 155, Bijoy stitched together a string of partnerships.
He forged an invaluable 176 with Al Amin Junior before Al-Amins abrupt retired hurt. The duo was playing with the same pace, mostly in one day fashion but Al Amin was aggressive more than Bijoy.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Bijoy brought up his fifty from 94 balls with half-a-dozen boundaries, where Al Amin racked up his fifty from run-a-ball with two sixes and half-a-dozen fours.
The duo, therefore, converted their respective fifty to successfully hundred after drinks break. Al Amin played 104 balls to make his third hundred while Bijoy faced 183 balls to complete his 17th century. Al Amins scoring spree halted having retired hurt on 110 before the tea break.
Since then, Bijoy partnered with Mahedi Hasan and forged an impressive fourth-wicket stand before being broken the well-established partnership that crossed 350-run mark.
Mahedi Hasan missed his league first but fifth first class century by 16 runs. Before being caught behind, the right-handed batsman whacked three sixes and seven boundaries in his 76-ball 84.
Finally he hit 55-run fifth-wicket with Nahidul Islam before the day was called off. Nahidul chipped in with 26. Anamul clouted a snail-pace 155 from 283 balls, laden with 13 boundaries to be remained at stumps.
Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury and spinner Sunzamul Islam picked up two wickets each for the North Zone.
Elsewhere at the picturesque Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Taijul Islams six-for provided Islami Bank East Zone a comprehensive 203-run lead against Walton Central Zone.
East Zone resumed the day second at 380-8 and added another 45 runs at the cost of the remaining two wickets to put on 425 on the board. After Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque, Mahmudul Hasan also missed his century. He went close to hundred after resuming at74. His 133-ball 94 studded with 11 fours before being bowled by fit-again fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who finally bagged four-wicket in his kitty.
Coming into bat, Walton Central Zone fell to Taijul Islams devastation and mislaid opener Saif Hassan inside 10 overs. Taijul sent back Central Zone with his double strikes after Saifs removal. The national spinner then grabbed three more wickets to pick up his six-wicket haul that restricted Central Zone to paltry 224 despite Pinak Ghosh (51) and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat (57) half-centuries.
Taijul Islam conceded 92 runs in 31 overs to claim his 20th five or five more wickets in his first class career.
East Zone in second innings scored two with no loss. Rony Talukdar and Imrul Kayes were at stumps on identical one run.
