Naeem Islam scored a laborious century to put Rajshahi on top against Dhaka on the third day of the National Cricket League final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
The seven-hour long marathon innings under humid conditions from Naeem, who made 112 off 281 balls with fifteen boundaries, helped Rajshahi take a small but much-needed first innings lead which left Dhaka in a must win situation if they want to regain the title.
Despite lanky paceman Shahadat Hossain’s five-wicket haul on a sporting track, Rajshahi managed a 34-run first innings lead because of Naeem’s patience in the middle. The right-hander, who usually bats down the order with the national team but batted at the number four position in the match, even kept his cool after making a hundred by taking a cheeky single. Naeem started the day on 42 and completed his century playing 129 balls while he took 241 balls to complete his first hundred in the league.
Resuming the day on 177 for four, defending champions Rajshahi were all out for 314 just before the tea break. But they soon took three Dhaka wickets including the prize scalp of Mohammad Ashraful to tighten their grip on the five-day final.
Dhaka scored 97 for three in their second innings when stumps were drawn for the day. The Dhaka batsmen including two not out batters Mehrab Hossain (32) and Mahmudullah Riyad (9) must do something special on the fourth day to bounce back in the match.
National pacer Shafiul Islam gave the breakthrough by removing Rony Talukder and then left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib took the wickets of Shamsur Rahman, who was caught at long-on , and Ashraful, who tried to sweep but top edged to reach the safe hands of Jahurul Islam at silly point. To add to their woes, one down Anamul Haque retired hurt after receiving a nasty bouncer from Shafiul.
“We (Rajshahi) are in a good position after the third day’s play and Dhaka must do something special if they want to come back into the match. I was determined to stay in the middle so that we could take the much-needed first innings lead,” said Naeem, who is playing in his third game.
“It’s really a sporting wicket. Patience was the key in my batting. I focused on the basics and didn’t take any risk and you know it is Pilot Bhai’s (Khaled Mashud) last game and that’s why I tried my best to give my team an advantage,” he added.
The national all-rounder was confident that he can play more long innings if he gets the opportunity to bat at the top of the order.
Another successful Rajshahi batsman Dhiman Ghosh could add only nine runs to his overnight score of 66 as he was trapped leg before by Mohammad Sharif, who claimed three wickets.
BRIEF SCORES
DHAKA: First innings 280 all out and second innings 97 for 3 in 34 overs (Shamsur 28, Anamul 20 retired hurt, Mehrab 32 not out, Riyad 9 not out, extras 7; Saqlain 2-27).
RAJSHAHI: First innings 314 all out in 107.4 overs (Dhiman 75, Naeem 112, Mashud 17, Forhad 15, extras 27; Shahadat 5-82, Sharif 3-62).
Courtesy of The Daily Star
