Opener Rony Talukder continued his blazing form as Dhaka Division seized the initiative on the opening day of their second round National Cricket League match against Dhaka Metro at Fatullah on Sunday. Fresh from a double century in the previous match, Rony, the top-scorer in the preceding Dhaka Premier League, struck 163 runs as Dhaka reached 360-2 at close on the day.Left-spinner Abdur Razzak grabbed eight wickets for 100 runs to help Khulna dismiss Barisal for 271 runs before reaching 73-2 at BKSP-2.
All-rounder Farhad Reza claimed 5-45 as Rasjshahi folded Chittagong for 209 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium while Rangpur reached 297-6 against Sylhet at BKSP-3.
Dhaka v Metro
Defending champions Dhaka look set to put a healthy total against Metro on the back of Rony’s prolific form and Abdul Mazid’s fourth first-class century.
Rony scored 163 from 224 balls with 18 fours and two sixes and shared 314 runs with Mazid in the opening stand to give Dhaka a solid foundation.
Elias Sunny ended their epic partnership when he made Rony a catch of Asif Hasan in 74th over of the day.
Right hander Mazid remained unbeaten on 173 runs facing 260 balls and hitting 17 fours along with a six. Taibur Rahman, 14 not out, was accompanying him after Mohammad Shahid bowled one-down Roqibul Hassan for nine.
Khulna v Barisal
National discard Abdur Razzak, who picked up nine wickets in the opening game, ran through the Barisal innings with his 8-100, the best bowling figure so far in the season.
Razzak dismissed opener Avishek Mitra to give Khulna their first breakthrough but Fazle Mahmud and Shahriar Nafees added 50 bring their innings back of on track.
However, Razzak returned to his second spell to claim four wickets in consecutive overs to put his side in strong position. Nafees left for 55 but Mahmud batted doggedly to score 85 before becoming Razzak’s final victim.
Among others, Al-Amin-2 made 64 runs for Barisal.
Rajshahi v Chittagong
Farhad Reza’s five-wicket haul helped Rajshahi gain some advantage over lowly Chittagong, who followed their 225-runs defeat against Rangpur with yet another poor performance to be dismissed for 209.
Left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib (3-25) and paceman Shafiul Islam (2-43) claimed the remaining wickets as Irfan Sukkur highest 55 runs for Chittagong.
Rangpur v Sylhet
Tanveer Haider made 73 while Mahmudul Hasan scored 60 as Rangpur ended their first day at 297-6 against Sylhet.
Tanveer and Mahmudul added 132 runs for the fifth wicket as Rangpur recovered from 92-4 to put a decent total.
Enamul Haque jr claimed 4-90 for Sylhet.
-With New Age input
