Skipper Abdur Razzak grabbed 6-102 as Prime Bank South Zone beat BCB North Zone by 213 runs to claim their maiden Bangladesh Cricket League title at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday. Set a world record target of 573 runs, North Zone were firmly in the contest reaching 254-3 overnight before Razzak triggered the collapse in the fifth morning with his second five-wicket haul in the tournament.
BCB North Zone were eventually all out for 359 runs as Farhad Hossain, unbeaten on 85 overnight, made 129 off 219 balls, his second first-class century in as many matches.
North Zone suffered a blow when Al-Amin Hossain bowled Nasir Hossain off his first ball of the morning, which also ended the batsman’s 132-run fourth wicket partnership with Farhad.
Nasir, who resumed his innings on 67, was out without adding any run to his overnight score. Tanvir Haider was the next batsman to go in the following over as left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman trapped him leg-before for one.
Razzak began his haul on the fifth day when he bowled Hamidul Islam for 22 before scalping Farhad Reza and centurion Farhad in successive overs as the game ended well before the lunch break.
Razzak thanked his team-mates for contributing to the success.
‘I thank everyone for their contribution,’ he said. ‘We did not expect that it will be ended so quickly. We only felt that we had a good chance of getting into a comfortable position if we can remove both the overnight batsmen.’
Razzak admitted that they failed to put the pressure on North Zone batsmen on the fourth day and felt at times that it can make them pay.
‘Actually, in longer version one or two partnerships will always take place. Here the wicket’s condition was as such that such partnerships were very much expected,’ he said. ‘Nasir and Farhad played really well yesterday. We had the confidence that we could bundle them out before they get the remaining 320 runs.
‘If they were given a chance to play 90 overs, they would have obviously made 300, so it was a do-or-die situation,’ said Razzak.
South Zone coach Khaled Mahmud said that he was clearly upset with the body language of his players while bowling during the second innings and thanked them for being able to learn from the mistake.
‘We only gave this message in the morning that we should put up a positive body language and show that we are playing for a win,’ said Mahmud.
‘I was upset last night because we hardly looked to put up an effort,’ he said.
Imrul Kayes was adjudged man-of-the-match for his double-century in the second innings while 22-year old left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was named man-of-the-tournament for his 37 wickets, including an 8-86 in the first innings.
South Zone received Tk 35 lakh as prize money for winning the tournament.
BRIEF SCORES
BCB North Zone v Prime Bank South Zone
BCB North Zone 2nd innings 359 in 87.4 overs ( Farhad Hossain 129, Nasir 67, Junaed 51; Razzak 6-102) & 1st innings 235 in 97.5 overs v Prime Bank South Zone 2nd innings 536 all out in 116.3 overs & 1st innings 271 in 80 overs.
Result: Prime Bank South Zone won by 231 runs.
Man of the match: Imrul Kayes (PBSZ).
-With New Age input
