Nayeem keeps Easts title hopes alive
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Nayeem Hasans career-best eight-wicket haul piloted Islami Bank East Zone to trump Walton Central Zone with comprehensive 321-run victory on the day third of the sixth and final round fixture of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at the picturesque Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Islami Bank, who earlier lifted BCL title in two successive seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 respectively, have to wait for the result of the other match between BCB North Zone and Prime Bank South Zone. If South Zone lost or drew the match with North Zone, in that case, East Zone will be champions. But if South Zone won the match with North Zone, in that case, South Zone will be BCL winners.
Resuming the third day on 2-0, Islami Bank East Zone lost overnight batsmen- Rony Talukdar and Imrul Kayes inside 10 overs. Together with Yasir Ali, captain Mominul Haque, thereafter, attempted to halt the slide and started playing in one-day style.
The duo hit an invaluable 175 for the third-wicket stand before the exit of Mominul, who cracked 106-ball 100 with nine fours and one six.
Yasir then paired with Zakir Hasan and clattered an unbeaten 33. In-form batsman, who went to play Emerging Teams Asia Cup for Bangladesh Under-23 Cricket Team in Pakistan and Sir Lanka, brought up his second BCL hundred before declaring their second innings for 254 for three after first innings 425 that set an improbable 456-run target for Walton Central Zone.
Yasir clouted 10 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten knock of 101 from 109 delivers with Zakir Hasan scoring 15.
Getting an improbable target of 456 to win in almost 150 overs, Walton Central Zone walked to draw the match but young spinner Nayeem Hasan put a firm barrage with his spin salvo on their planning. The young spinner launched his wicket glut with Pinak Ghosh when he trapped him lbw.
Removing Saif Hassan and Abdul Mazid, he therefore, completed his five-for by getting rid of Marshall Ayub after Nazmul Hossain Shanto. He widened his wicket tally after being trapped Mosaddek Hossain Saikat. Fast bowler Abu Jayed Rahi spoiled his rhythm picking up Jaker Ali in the mid-way.
But Nayeem did not frustrate for this and onslaught his salvo once again. He then removed Mosharraf Hossain Rubel and Abu Haider Rony in the same over to claim his eight-wicket haul. He conceded only 47 runs to grab his stakes that bettered his previous best of 8-106.
Central Zone were folded for a paltry 134 in the face of Nayeems moral-demolishing bowling display. Finally he snatched the player-of-the match award with his spell-binding performance.
Elsewhere at Chattograms Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, BCB North Zone scored 186 for five against Prime Bank South Zone, trailing by 62 runs.
Holders Prime Bank South Zone added 134 runs with overnight 407 for 5 to make their first innings 541. Anamul Haque made a possibility of double hundred but he fell to Sunzamul Islam after scoring 180. Bijoy added only 25 runs with overnight 155. He cracked 16 boundaries in his patient 314-ball 180.
National discarded spinner Sunzamul Islam, who claimed 6-103 in fifth round, gave away 158 runs to capture his six-wicket burst. This was Sunzamuls 18tho five-for or five more wickets in his first class cricket career. Al Amin Junior, who came back to bat on third day after being retired hurt on second day, managed to add 18 with his 110. Captain Abdur Razzak was at stumps on 18.
