A late blitz by Robiul Islam helped Prime Bank South Zone reach a respectable 248 runs in the first innings on the first day of their second
Bangladesh Cricket League match against Islami Bank East Zone at Mirpur on Wednesday.
Half-centuries from Junaed Siddique and Farhad Hossain took Bangladesh Cricket Board North Zone to 281-5 against Walton Central Zone in what appeared to be a batting a paradise in Bogra in the other match.
At Mirpur, South Zone were somewhat in trouble having been reduced to 196-9 before Robiul, who shone with the ball in their previous match at the same ground, lifted the side with 39 off 30 balls with two fours and four sixes.
Robuil took just three balls to show his intent, whacking Yasin Arafat for six after the bowler had South Zone captain Abdur Razzak stumped by the Dhiman Ghosh in the same over.
Another six followed in the next over, bowled by Alok Kapali, before he hammered Yasin and Nabil Samad for two boundaries in consecutive overs.
Rajin Saleh dropped Kamrul Islam at the other end helping Robiul to continue his onslaught as he struck Abu Zayed for two sixes in the same over. Taposh Baishya ended South Zone innings when he had Kamrul caught by Nabil at mid-on for 16.
South Zone owed their total also to Anamul Haque, who provided some solidity batting at one-down with his 74 from 151 balls but he did not get any significant support from other end.
Anamul was eventually out by Yasin, the right-arm off-break bowler, who finished with 4-50.
At close East Zone were 50-1 with skipper Nafees Iqbal, unbeaten on 17 alongside Rajin Saleh (four not out). Shahriar Nafees, who came in the side as a replacement for Qumrul Islam, was the only batsman out, lbw by Sohag Gazi for 12.
In Bogra, after opting to bat first Junaed gave BCB North Zone a solid platform when he shared 124 runs with Myshukur Rahman in the opening partnership.
Occasional off-spinner Shuvagoto Hom dismissed Junaed for 78 runs to give Central Zone their first breakthrough before Elias Sunny removed his slow-going partner Myshukur for 49.
Junaed, who could score only three runs amid a run-feast by his team-mates in the previous match, smashed 11 fours in his 135-ball innings.
Farhad and Naeem Islam staved off the collapse adding 85 runs for the third wicket before Sunny struck again to remove Naeem for 36. Farhad was caught by Roqibul Hassan off Mohammad Sharif for 74 to give Central Zone some respite.
Shahadat Hossain made the day even for the visitors when he had
Nasir Hossain caught by Shamsur Rahman an over before the bails were drawn for the day.
Mushfiur Rahim was unbeaten on 33 at the end of day’s play.
-With New Age input
