A couple of centuries by Jahurul Islam Omi and Ariful Haque propelled BCB North Zone to compile a healthy first innings total of 415 against Islami Bank East Zone on the day two of the fifth-round fixture of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur yesterday.

Captain Jahurul Islam Omi and Ariful Haque hit an invaluable 184-run partnership for the sixth-wicket stand after resuming the second day at 204-5. The duo pulled the team from the precarious 166 for five to 350 for six.

On way to their partnership, Omi first completed his century after the lunch break by converting his overnight score of 43. This is Omi’s 13th first-class century. Before caught behind, the national discard clouted a patient 113 off 238 deliveries with a full dozen boundary.

Following Omi’s footsteps, Ariful Haque also converted his overnight score 17 to notch up his hundred just before the tea break. It’s Ariful’s seventh first-class century. Ariful, whose stroke-making ability in BPL drew attention of the selectors and made a room in the national team, blasted seven fours and a six in his 201-ball knock. Later Taijul Islam (30) and Shafiul Islam (not out 17) late-fire crossed the 400-run mark.

Sohag Gazi, who took two wickets on the day one, finished the day with four for 91 off 25.4 overs.

In reply, Islami Bank East Zone scored 110 with no loss in 27 overs. Liton Das remained unbeaten on 52 with Tasamul Haque scoring 49. They were trailing by 305 runs with 10 wickets remaining in their first innings.   

At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Walton Central Zone mustered 302 despite Abdur Razzak’s six-wicket haul in response to Prime Bank South Zone’s first innings total of 191.

The Bankers put on 50 for one in their second wickets that meant they have needed another 61 runs to cross the Central Zone’s first innings total.

Resuming the first innings at 154 for two, Walton Central Zone finally managed to score 302. They mislaid their overnight batsman Marshall Ayub cheaply. Marshall fell for 15 to add just one run with his overnight score. And Shadman Islam Anik, who struck century in the fourth-round fixture against BCB North Zone, extended his score but missed his back-to-back century as he fell seven run shy of his century. The young opener added 27 runs with his overnight 66. Anik clubbed 176-ball 93, clobbering 12 boundaries.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Irfan Sukkur notched up his half-century after Anik. The former slammed 11 fours in his 70-ball 54.  

For South Zone, the experienced spinner Abdur Razzak conceded 106 runs to take up six wickets in 31 overs. Nayeem Islam picked up three wickets for 83.

In second innings, Prime Bank South Zone made 50 for one with Anamul Haque Bijoy batting on 31 and Imrul Kayes making 10.

Leg-spinner Tanvir Haider grabbed the fallen wicket of Fazle Mahmud for the BCB North Zone.