Tariq, Naeem, Dhiman guide Rangpur
Hundreds from Tariq Ahmed, Naeem Islam and Dhiman Ghosh helped holders Rangpur to a mammoth 463-allout in their first innings of the Walton 17th National Cricket League’s fifth-round tie yesterday.
Asked to bat first, Rangpur made merry of the Dhaka bowlers as opening batsman Tariq scored 102 off 183 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes while national discard Naeem registered a century of his own. The right-handed Naeem smashed a dozen boundaries and was ably supported by wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman, who was dismissed after making exactly 100. The stumper blasted 13 fours.
Dhaka seamer Dewan Sabbir picked up four wickets while Nazmul Islam bagged three. In reply, the capital city outfit trail the defending champions by 385 runs after ending the second day on 78/2.
Ton-up Kayes lead Khulna reply
Centuries by Mahmudullah and Shamsur Rahman enabled Dhaka Metropolis to 399-allout in their first innings but Khulna, who narrowly missed out on the title in the previous edition, also managed a solid start as they ended yesterday’s proceedings on 204/4, trailing Metro by 195 runs.
Metro’s out-of-favour national star Shamsur posted his second hundred in this edition, hammering 18 fours and five sixes en route to an 167-ball 144.
Tigers’ middle-order batsman Mahmudullah also joined in the party, striking 132 runs off 224 balls, featuring 14 boundaries.
Bangladesh Under-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz scalped 5/96 for Khulna while veteran spinner Abdur Razzak notched three wickets. In pursuit of Metro’s first-innings tally, Khulna began well with national Test opener Kayes remaining unbeaten on 110 off 192 balls. Kayes bludgeoned 11 fours and half a dozen sixes and will look to prolong his knock when the third day’s play gets underway today.
Sylhet close in on Chittagong’s tally
Sylhet, who trail Chittagong by eight runs with one first-innings wicket in hand, will be eager to take the lead today.
Sylhet skittled out Chittagong for 270 and made 262/9 in reply with skipper Alok Kapali top-scoring with 46. Sylhet’s local lad, Nabil Samad, who is playing for the port-city outfit, took three wickets.
Chittagong were earlier dismissed for 270 with Tasamul Haque scoring the highest 74.
Abul Hasan picked up four wickets for Sylhet while Enamul Haque Jr grabbed three.
Rajshahi battling to avoid defeat against Barisal
Barisal are very much in the driving seat against Rajshahi as the latter ended yesterday on 126/3 in their second innings. Rajshahi were earlier bundled out for just 119 in their first essay.
Salman Hossain and Tawhidul Islam starred for Barisal bagging five wickets each to dismiss Rajshahi for a paltry 119.
In their first innings, Barisal put up 311-allout, riding on half-centuries by Shahriar Nafees, Fazle Mahmud and Al Amin.
Shafaq al Zabir and Sanjamul Islam picked up four wickets each for Rajshahi.
