Zakir Hossain smashed an aggressive 57 as Islami Bank East Zone recovered from a shaky start to clinch a four-wicket victory over BCB North Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox’s  Bazar yesterday. Zakir clattered six four and three sixes in his 43 ball-57 after his side was reeling a precarious 38 for four in the chase of 139 runs in a tricky wicket.  North Zone who were forced to follow-on, scared East Zone by reducing them to four for two in just second over. Both openers- Liton Das and Yasir Ali made identical two runs. Tasamul Haque (7) also followed them after a while.
Mominul Haque counterattacked but couldn’t last long as he left the side at 38 for four, after scoring 23 off 22. Zakir then took the baton and came hard on the North Zone bowlers. He was out as fifth batsman with the scoreboard reading 110 for five. Alok Kapali (21) and Rahatul Ferdous (16 not out) then patiently sailed the side home.
Opener Myshukur Rahman hit a patient 131 while Farhad Hossain scored 75 as North Zone set a 139 runs target to East Zone. They amassed 357 in the second innings after following-on, being all out for 173.
North Zone began the fourth and final day with 208 for four and added 149 runs more to the overnight total. Alok Kapali appeared as the wrecker-in-chief for North Zone as he struck at regular basis to derail the North Zone’s progress. Kapali who hit 154 with bat for East Zone, grabbed five for 70 to be the most successful bowler.
Alok Kapali scored a brilliant 154 as Islam Bank East Zone compiled 392 in the first innings.
Fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin (5-41) and Kamrul Islam Rabbi (4-51) shared nine wickets between them.
The match between Walton Central Zone and Prime Bank South Zone ended in a draw at the ground-2 of SKICS as it was predicted after the day’s three game.
Resuming the day 112 for two, Central Zone declared the second innings for 292 for six, setting a 406 runs target for Prime Bank, right after the lunch of the day four. South Zone however was reluctant to take any risk. They batted with composure to reach 109 for four at stumps.  Central Zone rode on four fifty plus innings with overnight unbeaten Marshall Ayub making the highest 66, after resuming the day on 42.
Abdur Razzak who claimed five wickets in the first innings, ended with the match figure of eight for 253 after snaring three for 115 in the second innings. He was adjudged man of the match for his bowling performance.
Riding on Roqibul Hassan’s 114, his second century in consecutive match, Central Zone posted 425 in the first innings before being all out. Then they took a 112-run lead by bowling out South Zone for 313 with Farhad Reza hitting highest 61.