The opening day of the 17th National Cricket League yesterday was marked with a century, eight half-centuries and two five-wicket hauls.
The tournament committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, in collaboration with the grounds and facilities committee, had earlier insisted on introducing sporting wickets in all the venues and the expectation was met.
According to several cricketers, the wickets were tough for stroke-making and aided the bowlers, albeit in patches. The true nature of the wickets however, will only be determined as the matches progress.
Among the four matches in tier one and two, only Sylhet and Dhaka managed to survive the first day while Barisal and Dhaka Metropolis were bundled out.
Barisal middle-order batsman Mosaddek Hossain hammered the lone hundred of the day while Rajshahi spinner Sanjamul Islam was the most impressive bowler with his six-wicket haul.
Dhaka v Khulna
Batting first, Dhaka posted 174/8 against a precise Khulna bowling attack. Speedster Mustafizur Rahman and veteran spinner Abdur Razzak bagged three wickets apiece and were it not for Saif Hasan’s patient 68, featuring 10 boundaries, Dhaka would have been skittled out much earlier on the day.
In his first NCL game in three years, maverick all-rounder Shakib al Hasan picked up a wicket while national discard, paceman Robiul Islam also took one.
Dhaka Metro v Rangpur
Dhaka Metro would be indebted to triple half-centuries from Shamsur Rahman, Marshal Ayub and tail-ender Elias Sunny as they were dismissed for 238. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the trio of national discards ensured their side would have some total to defend.
Right-arm off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan starred for Rangpur, nearly recording his best bowling figure in first-class cricket. Mahmudul accounted for half the Dhaka Metro side, including the scalp of Mahmudullah, who made 16. Rangpur trail Dhaka Metro’s tally by 226 runs as they ended the day’s play at 12 without loss.
Chittagong v Sylhet
Unbeaten half-centuries by Rajin Saleh and Ruman Ahmed guided Sylhet to a respectable 240/4 at stumps on opening day.
Coming together at 111/4, Rajin (72 not out) and Ruman (70 not out) added 129 unbroken runs for the fifth wicket.
Barisal v Rajshahi
Riding on Mosaddek’s 149-ball 122, featuring as many as 11 fours and half a dozen sixes, Barisal registered 302 before losing all of their wickets. At stumps, Rajshahi trailed Barisal by 283 runs as they put on 19 for the loss of two wickets.
Out-of-favour national cricketers Shahriar Nafees and Sohag Gazi provided Mosaddek valuable support, scoring contrasting half-centuries.
Sanjamul was the wrecker-in-chief for Rajshahi, picking up 6/123.
