Walton Central Zone’s Marshal Ayub and Mehrab Hossain Jr made their way into the record books as they both registered a double century on the second day of their third round Bangladesh Cricket League match against Islami Bank East Zone on Wednesday.
Marshal and Mehrab, who earlier scored a century each in the tournament, became the first batsmen in the country’s cricket history to record a double century each in the same innings.
Both overnight batters, Marshal and Mehrab were unbeaten on 251 and 206 respectively as Walton Central Zone batted the full day at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
After resuming the day at 231-4, Central Zone lost no wickets as they piled up a massive 528-4 in their first innings.
Marshal, who was undefeated on 95 overnight, reached his century early in the morning before his partner Mehrab, who resumed on 75, followed him to register his second consecutive hundred in the BCL.
Marshal hammered the bowlers and took just 125 balls to score the next hundred as he reached the milestone of 200 runs in 268 balls, while Mehrab completed his double century just minutes before the day’s play ended.
In the process, the duo added 472 runs for the fourth wicket.
Marshal was not out on 251 off 323 balls with 27 fours and three sixes while Mehrab struck 26 fours and two sixes in his 356-ball 206.
Meanwhile at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Saqlain Sajib starred with the ball as Bangladesh Cricket Board North Zone carried their first day’s momentum to claim an 86-run first innings lead after dismissing Prime Bank South Zone for 205 runs on day two.
Off-spinner Farhad Hossain removed Imrul Kayes (two) in the first over of the day before Soumya Sarker (51) and Anamul Haque (30) steadied the innings with a 71-run second-wicket stand.
Saqlain broke the partnership when he clean bowled Anamul which was followed by some poor batting as South Zone were reduced to 140-7 after Saqlain had paired with Sanjamul Islam to wreck their opponents’ batting.
Coming in at number eight and nine respectively, Sohag Gazi’s blistering knock of 45 from 24 balls and Abdur Razzak’s 20 off 10 balls only took South Zone just over the 200-run mark.
Saqlain returned with figures of 6-74.
North Zone came out to bat in their second innings and before the close of play they were eventually 211 runs ahead with the scoreboard reading 125-3.
They were 66-3 before Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam produced an unbroken 59-run partnership. Skipper Mushfiq was not out on 51 while Naeem was batting on 22.
-With New Age input
