Ton-up Ashraful, Naeem, Dhiman as 19th NCL begins

Mohammad Ashraful, Naeem Islam and Dhiman Ghosh starred with the bat on Friday in what was a rain-hit opening day in the first round of the 19th edition of the National Cricket League.Dhaka Metropolis v Chittagong, ChittagongAshraful led the way for Dhaka Metro in tier two after captain Ali Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first. The former Bangladesh captain made a patient 194-ball 104, laced with a dozen fours and two sixes as Dhaka Metro posted 257 runs for the loss of five wickets in 90 overs at stumps on day one. Together with national discard Mehrab Hossain Jr, Ashraful put on 174 runs for the fifth wicket. Mehrab scored a painstaking 210-ball 65, featuring half a dozen boundaries and a maximum. Mehedi Hasan Rana and Shakhawat Hossain bagged two wickets each for Chittagong. Mehrab and Sharifullah (six), the unbeaten batsmen at the crease, will resume the second day’s play today.Rangpur v Khulna, KhulnaIn tier one, Naeem and Dhiman propelled Rangpur to 325/6 in 87.3 overs at stumps after Khulna won the toss and asked the opposition to bat first. Naeem blasted an unbeaten 225-ball 120, including nine fours and a six, while Dhiman was dismissed for 105 off 117 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and an over-boundary. The centurion duo added 148 for the six wicket before Dhiman made his way to the dressing room. Al Amin Hossain and Abdur Razzak shared six wickets between themselves while Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza, playing for his division Khulna, returned wicketless conceding 56 in his 13 overs, including two maidens.Sylhet v Rajshahi, RajshahiOnly 56.2 overs were possible in the tier two game between Sylhet and Rajshahi due to a wet outfield as the former were struggling on 112/7 at stumps. Rajshahi’s decision to field first paid off as Muktar Ali, Saqlain Sajib and Farhad Reza notched two wickets apiece. In what was a disappointing performance by Sylhet, Imtiaz Hossain top-scored with a 90-ball 38 as none of the other batsmen crossed 17.Dhaka v Barisal, Cox’s BazarThere was action in the other three games of the day but Dhaka and Barisal were unlucky in that not a single ball was bowled in their tier one game in the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar. What’s more, the toss didn’t even take place due to heavy rainfall and a wet outfield.Tier 1Rangpur 325/6 in 87.3 overs (Naeem 120*, Dhiman 105) v KhulnaTier 2Dhaka Metro 257/5 in 90 overs (Ashraful 104, Mehrab Jr 65*) v ChittagongSylhet 112/7 in 56.2 overs (Imtiaz 38, Muktar 2/12) v Rajshahi