Farhad, Sanjamul share record stand
Farhad Reza came back strongly from a demoralising showing in the ICC World Twenty20 against Hong Kong, hitting an unbeaten 182 for Rajshahi on the first day of the National Cricket League sixth round at BKSP on Saturday. Farhad, who was not picked again since the ill-fated Hong Kong game, shared 347 runs with Sanjamul Islam for the seventh wicket in a record first-class stand as Rajshahi posted 424-7 against Chittagong at close on the opening day.
Sanjamul made his maiden first-class century before he was out for 172 in the penultimate over of the day.
On a day ruled by the batsmen, Rangpur’s Naeem Islam slammed 144 against Sylhet at Fatullah while Barisal’s Shahriar Nafees struck 129 against Dhaka in Chittagong.
Rajshahi v Chittagong
Farhad and Sanjamul came together after national skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed for six, leaving Rajshahi stuttering at 77-6.
The pair denied Chittagong further success until the penultimate over, equalling the second highest first-class record of D Atkinson and CC Depeiza, who put together 347 runs for West Indies against Australia in Bridgetown in 1954-55.
Only India’s Bhupinder Singh Jr and P Dharmani are ahead of them in the record book, putting on 460 runs for Punjab against New Delhi in 1994-95.
Farhad faced 209 balls and struck 26 fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 182 while Sanjamul, who had only two first-class fifties to his name before this game, clubbed 22 fours and two sixes in his 196-ball 172.
Dhaka v Barisal
Shahriar Nafees scored 129 from 143 balls with 21 fours and two sixes as Barisal were 323 all out after being put in to bat first at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Shahriar put on 157 with Nuruzzaman (79) for the fourth wicket before Dhaka bounced back.
At stumps on the opening day, table-toppers Dhaka were 14-0, trailing Barisal by 307 runs.
Rangpur v Sylhet
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed claimed 5-58 for Sylhet but Rangpur held the edge after Naeem’s patient 144 off 289 balls took them to 256-7 at stumps at the Fatullah outer stadium.
In a display of slow batting Tanvir Haider remained unbeaten on 62 facing 165 balls.
Dhaka Metro v Khulna
At Cox’s Bazar, Abdur Razzak and Nazimuddin Ripon shared seven wickets between them as Khulna dismissed Dhaka Metropolis for 172 runs before moving to 46-1 at close. Sadman Islam made highest 40 for Dhaka Metropolis as Razzak finished with 4-78.
-With New Age input
