National stars shine

The national players returned with a bang when the second phase of the National Cricket League one-day competition began at two different city venues yesterday. The presence of the Tigers also saw high-scoring affairs in both matches after the last two rounds of the first phase had experienced dull and drab affairs sans the national players.
After two half centuries in the first round, Mohammad Ashraful struck a stroke-filled unbeaten century in a bid to regain his place in the national side but the right-hander’s effort went in vain as Khulna rode on national opener Imrul Kayes’ century to post a four-wicket victory over Dhaka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Fazle Rabbi was the star in Barisal’s eight-run victory against Rajshahi despite wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim’s hundred at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
The young left-hander Rabbi hit his second hundred in the competition after making the magical three figures against Chittagong in the first round game at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
KHULNA-DHAKA
Khulna’s top order led by Imrul Kayes played brilliantly to reach the target of 273 runs with four balls to spare. Left-hander Imrul and Nazmus Sadat got off to a confident start in chase of a massive total as the pair added 46 runs in eight overs before Sadat was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Nur Hossain.
A 140-run second wicket stand between Imrul and Mohammad Mithun however gave the foundation to topple the target. Imrul smashed ten fours and one six during his 122-ball 108 while Mithun contributed 59 off 76 balls that featured three boundaries and as many sixes. Both the batsmen fell victim to Nur Hossain.
Khulna was in a good position at 192 for three in 36.5 overs when Imrul walked back to the pavilion and it was Ziaur Rahman who played a cameo knock by clobbering three sixes and a boundary during his unbeaten 41-ball 42 innings to script the victory.
Shakib Al Hasan added 18 off 17 balls.
Earlier Uttam Sarker (66) and Shamsur Rahman (17) gave Dhaka a slow start associating 51 runs in 13.3 overs but Dhaka could manage a fighting total of 272-6 in their share of 50 overs thanks to a dazzling hundred from Ashraful and the fireworks from skipper Mohammad Sharif, who clobbered five fours and a six during his unbeaten 27-ball 45.
Ashraful smashed twelve boundaries in his 103-ball 111.
Shakib claimed two wickets for 33 runs and Nizamuddin took two for 39 runs.
BARISAL-RAJSHAHI
A 172-run opening stand between Rabbi and Nasiruddin Faruque helped Barisal put up 272 for three wickets in their stipulated 50 overs after being put into bat first.
Rabbi continued his good form with an unbeaten 147-ball 148 that contained 16 fours and two sixes while Faruque added 68 off 106 balls that saw six boundaries and two over boundaries.
In reply, Rajshahi tottered to 52 for three but Mushfiqur revived their hope by making 114 off 120 balls that included nine fours and three sixes but his effort was not good enough as the wickets fell at regular intervals before being bundled out for 264 runs with ten balls to spare.
National all-rounder Sohrawardi Shuvo threatened Barisal the most batting at number nine as the left-hander smashed two sixes and a four during his 25-ball 32 but Monir Hossain, who took three wickets conceding 48 runs, dismissed him to confirm Barisal’s narrow victory.
Sohag Gazi was the other successful bowler with three for 53.
BRIEF SCORES
DHAKA: 272-6 in 50 overs (Uttam 66, Ashraful 111 not out, Sharif 45 not out, Shakib 2-33, Nizamuddin 2-39).
KHULNA: 273-6 in 49.2 overs (Imrul 108, Mithun 59, Ziaur 42 not out, Nur 3-63).
RESULT: Khulna won by four wickets.
BARISAL: 272-3 in 50 overs (Rabbi 148 not out, Faruque 68, Nafees 24, Shuvo 2-49).
RAJSHAHI: 264 all out in 48.2 overs (Junaed 30, Mushfiqur 114, Naeem 32, Shuvo 32, Monir 3-48, Sohag 3-53, Asif 2-49).
RESULT: Barisal won by eight runs.

Courtesy of The Daily Star