Opener Johurul Islam scored a composed hundred as Rajshahi scored a formidable 300 for four against Sylhet on the first day at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Narayanganj. Johurul scored 139 to take the team to a commanding position, while former national captain Khaled Mashud scored 56 to boost the total after being asked to bat first.
Johur made 139 off 268 balls and his 333 minutes featured with 18 boundaries and one sixer.
Number four batsman Farhad Hossain made 104-ball 53 runs with five fours, number six Nasir Hossain was batting with 22 and Naeem Islam 10 when the bails drawn.
Nasir Ahmed grabbed two wickets for 51 runs while Nabil Samad and Abu Zahid took one wicket apiece conceding 41 and 54 runs respectively.
In another national league match at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Khulna Division were bundled out for 132 runs in the first innings against Dhaka Division.
Nizamuddin (not out 22), Aslam Ali (22), Ziaur Rahman (20), Habibul Basher Sumon (17) and Habibur Rahman (16) were the major contributors for Khulna while another 20 runs of the innings came from extras.
Pacer Talha Jubear claimed four wickets for 43 runs, Mohammad Sharif picked up three wickets for 32 runs while spinner Mosharaf Hossain took two wickets for 21 runs.
Replying to the poor total, Dhaka Division also displayed a frustrating show losing eight wickets for just 57 runs in 22.5 overs and finally they scored 77 for 8 in 32 overs in the first innings at the close of the day.
Nadif Chowdhury (12 batting), Mohammad Sharif (12 batting), Marshall Ayub(11) and Mehrab Hossain (10) were the leading scorers for Dhaka while another 12 of the innings came from extras.
Rabiul Islam captured four wickets for 23 runs while Zaiur Rahman and Dollar Mahmud picked up two wickets each giving away 24 and 29 runs respectively.
At the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, left-handed Faisal Hossain slammed 73 off 103 balls that contained 12 fours and a six but his effort was not good enough for Chittagong to put on a decent total on the board as Arafat Salahuddin and Monir Hossain shared six wickets to cause the damage in the port city team’s innings.
Salahuddin tormented the top-order by taking three wickets for 37 runs while Monir wrapped up the tail with three for 24 runs.
Out-of-favour paceman Tareq Aziz however claimed two wickets to make sure Chittagong ended the day with some solace as Barisal lost three wickets for 73 runs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
RAJSHAHI v SYLHET
RAJSHAHI: First innings 300 for 4 in 91 overs (Zahurul 139, Forhad 4, Masud 56, Forhad Hossain 53, Nayeem 10 not out, Nasir 22 not out, extras 16; Nasir 2-51)
CHITTAGONG v BARISAL
CHITTAGONG: First innings-200 all out in 59.4 overs (Gazi Salahuddin 28, Faisal 73, Arman 27 not out, extras 8; Arafat Salahuddin 3-37, Monir 3-24)
BARISAL: First innings 73 for 3 in 27 overs (Asif 28 not out, Shaheen 22 not out, extras 6; Tareq 2-16)
DHAKA v KHULNA
KHULNA: First innings 132 all out in 40 overs (Aslam 22, Nizamuddin 22 not out, Zia 20, extras 20; Talha 4-43, Sharif 3-32, Mosharraf 2-21)
DHAKA: First innings-77-8 in 32 overs (Marshal 11, Mosharraf 12 not out, Sharif 12 not out, extras 12; Zia 2-24, Dollar 2-29, Robiul 4-23)
