Imrul Kayes struck his maiden first-class double century and Mohammad Mithun also scored a century as Prime Bank South Zone took a firm grip on the Bangladesh Cricket League final against BCB North Zone on Sunday. Kayes flayed the North Zone bowling attack to score 204 and Mithun complemented with unbeaten 111 taking South Zone to 410-3 at close on the third day to extend their overall lead to 446 runs with two days to go.
Kayes and Mithun added 254 runs for the third wicket after South Zone, who bowled out North Zone for 235 runs on the second day for a 36-run first innings lead, lost the wickets of Anamul Haque and Soumya Sarker.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bowled Anamul for 21 runs to add him to his eight wickets in the first innings and Soumya was run out for 41 by Naeem Islam raising the prospect of some competitive cricket before Kayes and Mithun made it agonisingly a lopsided day.
Kayes, whose previous highest first-class innings was 138, was at his supreme best hitting 20 fours and nine sixes before Farhad Reza ended his six-hour long sublime innings, which came off 266 balls.
It also earned him the distinction of becoming the first Bangladeshi to hit a double century at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, the home of Bangladesh cricket.
‘I am very happy because I had targeted to make a score like this for a long time,’ Kayes told reporters after the third day’s play. ‘I felt that I need to score a double century or else I won’t get the recognition as a top-order batsman in Bangladesh now.
‘When other top order batsmen score a double hundred I feel why can’t I do it. Scoring a double hundred is a challenge and an achievement for each cricketer,’ said Kayes, who is travelling to West Indies with the Bangladesh A team soon.
Kayes reached his century in style hoisting paceman Shubhashish Roy for a six before he nudged the same bowler for a single to complete his double century five overs before the third day’s play ended. Roy took the catch off an in-swinging Farhad delivery as Kayes departed in the next over.
Mithun, who has been overlooked for the A team’s tour of West Indies, reached his three-figure mark before Kayes made the double hundred. Mithun burst into celebration as his shot off Farhad crossed the boundary rope.
Mithun faced 155 balls and hit 13 fours and five sixes in his unbeaten innings.
-With New Age input
