Action heats up in Cox’s Bazar
Rajshahi Division were in a spot of bother against Rangpur Division as the defending champions were leading by just 56 runs with four wickets in hand in their second innings after the third day of the National Cricket League third-round match at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium Academy ground in Cox’s Bazar yesterday.
Resuming the day on 263 for six, Rangpur were all out after adding just 11 runs, with left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam bagging three wickets for Rajshahi.
Rangpur however bounced back with the ball as Rajshahi kept losing wickets at regular intervals and ended the day on 129 for six, with Junaid Siddique top-scoring with 34. Spinners Sohrawardi Shuvo, Mahmudul Hasan and Tanbir Hayder picked up two wickets each for Rangpur.
At the nearby Sheikh Kamal International Stadium, Khulna were in commanding position, having amassed a lead of 200 runs with eight wickets in hand in their second innings against Dhaka Division after the third day.
Khulna had taken a first-innings lead of 55 runs as Dhaka were bundled out for 316 after resuming the third day on 206 for two. Despite a good start from the openers, apart from a top score of 72 from the in-form Saif Hasan, the Dhaka middle order totally collapsed to Khulna’s spin duo of Mehedi Hasan and Abdur Razzak, who bagged four and three wickets respectively.
In reply Khulna lost opener Robiul Islam for a duck, but kept things steady with a 106-run second wicket stand between Anamul Haque and Imran Uzzaman before the latter departed for 66.
First-innings centurion Anamul remained unbeaten on 61 off 122 balls with six fours and a six and will look to press fome Khulna’s advantage when they resume today on 145 for two.
After the first two days were washed out at the Sheikh Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi it was an exciting day of cricket between Sylhet and Chattogram that included a century and a five-for as a total of 16 wickets fell.
It was Chattogram’s right-arm seamer Irfan Hossain who rattled through the Sylhet batting order, picking six wickets while fellow pacer Hasan Mahmud scalped three to bundle Sylhet out for a paltry 163. Skipper Alok Kapali’s 42 was the highest score for Sylhet as none of the batsmen were able to make a significant contribution.
Chattogram despite losing wickets at regular intervals eventually took the first innings lead riding on Pinak Ghosh’s maiden first-class hundred from Pinak Ghosh, who reached the feat off just 82 balls and hit sixteen fours and two sixes.
The left-hander was dismissed shortly after reaching his hundred as Chattogram ended the day on 191 for six. Pacer Abu Jayed and left-arm spinner Enamul Haque took two wickets each for Sylhet.
Meanwhile, the other third-round game between Barisal and Dhaka Metropolis in Bogura was abandoned for the third consecutive day due to rain and wet outfield.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Rajshahi v Rangpur
Rajshahi: First innings 201 and second innings 129 for 6 (Shakhir 29, Junaid 34; Suhrawardi 2-24, Mahmudul 2-21, Tanbir 2-23)
Rangpur: First innings 274 all out (Mehedi 78, Naeem 54, Ariful 47, Nasir 62; Sunzamul 3-86, Iftekhar 2-59)
Khulna v Dhaka Div
Khulna: First innings 371 and second innings 145 for 2 (Anamul 61 not out, Imran 66; Salauddin 1-17)
Dhaka: First innings 316 all out ( Rony 73, Joyraz 51, Saif 72, Raqibul 56, Taibur 31; Razzak 3-72, Mehedi 4-92)
Sylhet v Chattogram
Sylhet: First innings 163 all out (Imtiaz 24, Zakir 21, Kapali 42; Mahmud 3-49, Ifran 6-57)
Chattogram: First innings 191 for 6 (Sadiqur 37, Pinak 100; Jayed 2-64, Enamul 2-35)
