Razzak takes five-for as Mashrafe returns in BCL

Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak’s record first-class five-wicket haul gave Prime Bank South Zone a dominating start against table-topper BCB North Zone in the sixth and final round of the Bangladesh Cricket League Tuesday. At stumps on day one, South Zone trailed by 72 runs with nine wickets in hand. Sent in to bat first in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Cricket Stadium, North Zone struggled to 187 all out in 58.3 overs as Razzak led the South Zone attack with his five-for in 20.3 overs conceding 53 runs. Razzak in the process emerged as the Bangladeshi bowler with the most five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket. Razzak since his first-class debut in the 2001-02 season registered 33 five-wicket hauls to surpass the previous best of 32 by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr. North Zone’s Sohrawardi Shuvo scored an unbeaten 59 while youngster Nazmul Hossain Shanto added 50. Experienced right-arm pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza playing the season’s last game picked up one wicket for South Zone while spinner Saqlain Sajib bagged two. Later, South Zone batted out 29 overs and riding on unbeaten half-centuries from opener Anamul Haque and No 3 batsman Imrul Kayes posted 115 losing one wicket in 29 overs. Anamul was not out on 52 while Imrul was undefeated on 51. North Zone are at the top of the points table with 60 points, followed by South Zone on 47. Central Zone v East Zone No 3 batsman Abdul Mazid and opener Shadman Islam’s centuries guided Walton Central Zone to 406 for the loss of four wickets in 89 overs against Islami Bank East Zone in Rajshahi’s Shaheed Kamruzzaman Cricket Stadium. Shadman before losing his wicket to spinner Sohag Gazi recorded his fifth first-class hundred, scoring 112. Mazid left the field retired hurt in the 69th over of the innings after scoring 159. Mazid notched his seventh first-class century. Gazi made the most damage with the ball for East Zone with three wickets in 31 overs giving away 140 runs. BCL, ROUND 6, DAY 1 Central Zone 406/4 in 89 overs (Mazid 159, Shadman 112) v East Zone South Zone 115/1 in 29 overs (Anamul 52, Imrul 51) trail North Zone 187 in 58.3 overs (Sohrawardi 59, Razzak 5/53) by 72 runs