Sohan unbeaten 155 boosts South
Taskin bowls North to strong position
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
The first day of the second round of the Walton-Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) produced a contrasting scenario at two different venues across the country yesterday, where batsmen dominated bowlers in Coxs Bazar match while bowlers have ascendancy over batsmen in Sylhet fixture.
Centuries by Nurul Hasan Sohan (155 not out), Anamul Haque Bijoy (129) and Mahedi Hasan (112) propelled Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) South Zone to amass 443 for six against Islami Bank-East Zone at the close of the day-1 at the Academy Ground of the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Coxs Bazar.
Fast-bowler Taskin Ahmed grabbed five-for as Walton-Central Zone bundled out for paltry 170 against BCB North Zone at the picturesque Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.
South vs East
BCB-South Zone came to bat after losing the toss on Coxs Bazar pitch and lost opener Shahriar Nafees in the very second over of the innings when he gave catch behind the wickets to face the delivery of the young pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja.
Raja sent South Zone into trouble further with his double strikes when the right-arm media pacer was accountable for Fazle Mahmud Rabbi and Shamsur Rahman Shuvo while the South Zone were stuttering at 16-3 in six overs.
Anamul Haque Bijoy attempted to steady the innings and hit a couple of partnerships that laid the foundation of the big total.
En route to his outstanding 129, Bijoy cobbled together an invaluable 190 for the fifth-wicket stand with Nurul Hasan Sohan after he clouted a 45 with Al Amin Junior for the fourth-wicket partnership.
Before his unfortunate run out by sub-fielder Mahmudul Hasan, the wicketkeeper-batsman whacked 155-ball 129, littered with four maximums and 14 boundaries.
Together with Mahedi Hasan, Sohan struck together a well-composed 175 for the sixth-wicket stand that crossed 400-run mark.
Young pacer Hasan Mahmud broke the threatening partnership when he bowled Mahedi Hasan, who was ruthless over bowlers than Sohan as he took 43 balls to notch up his fifty and 75 balls to complete his century.
Finally Mahedi clubbed 112 off 85, hitting eight big shots over the ropes and 10 boundaries. Sohan in association with Forhad Reza finished the day one. He belted 19 fours and three sixes in his patient but unbeaten 220-ball innings. Sohan remained stranded on 155 with Forhad Reza scoring nine.
Central vs North
Put into bat, Walton-Central Zone stumbled at the very first over when pacer Salahuddin Sakil eliminated Mohammad Naim before opening their account. Fast-bowler Taskin Ahmed compounded their batting woes further with his triple strikes when he dismissed Marshall Ayub (1), Abdul Mazid (5) and Taibur Rahman Parvez (0) in three successive overs.
Roquibul Hasan tried to arrest the stumbling of wickets with fellow batsmen and bailed them out of danger but Salahuddin Shakil got rid of Shuvagata Hom when they hit 47 for the fifth-wicket stand. Captain Shuvagata was caught by Rony Talukdar off Salahuddin Sakil after scoring 38-ball 19. Roquibul then partnered wicketkeeper-batsman Zakir Ali and added 37 for the sixth wicket before Zakirs exit hastened by Sumon Khan. Just five runs later, Taskin picked up his fourth wicket when Shohidul Islam was caught and bowled by the quick. He completed his five-wicket haul removing Mukidul Islam while Central Zone were sprawling at 157 for nine.
In the meantime, Ariful Haque removed Roquibul Hasan, who cracked teams highest 70. He smoked 10 boundaries in his 127-ball knock. Enamul Haque Jr nailed the last screw in Central innings by annihilating Mustafizur Rahman. As a result, Walton Central Zone skittled out for paltry 170.
In reply, BCB-North Zone finished the day at 89-3 with captain Naeem Islam scoring 18 and Mushfiqur Rahim making one.
