Soumya, Zabid star on Day 1
Soumya Sarker got an emergency call-up to join the team in Dubai during last month's Asia Cup but did not find a place in the squad for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe as it is believed that he would need to score runs consistently in domestic cricket to warrant a place. The left-hander started to show positive signs as the Khulna batsman scored 76 against Rangpur on the first day of the Tier-1 National Cricket League match yesterday after hitting a hundred against Rajshahi in the first round.
Soumya's 141-ball 76, which contained eight boundaries and a six, and his part in a 111-run second-wicket stand with Anamul Haque helped hosts Khulna finish the opening day of the third-round game on 272 for seven at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.
Anamul made 56 off 106 balls with five fours and two sixes. After the second-wicket partnership, Khulna saw a middle-order collapse before Ziaur Rahman (33 not out) and Mahedi Hasan (37) added 65 runs for the seventh wicket.
Left-arm pacer Sajedul Islam was the most successful bowler with four for 57.
In the Tier-2 game at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura, number seven Zabid Hossain rescued Dhaka Metro's innings to help them to 266 for six before stumps. The wicketkeeper-batsman was unbeaten on 79. He put on 74 runs for the sixth wicket with Sharifullah, who hit 45, after Shamsur Rahman made 50 before retiring hurt due to a groin injury. Taskin Ahmed was not out on 21.
HIGHLIGHTS
The rain played foul in two venues on the opening day of the third round of the National Cricket League while the sun shone on two other grounds in Khulna and Bogura. The play between Barishal and Rajshahi at the Barishal Divisional Stadium and Dhaka versus Sylhet at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground in Cox's Bazar were abandoned without a ball bowled.
19-year old Mohammad Naim already experiences playing the country's premier 50-over domestic league as he played for Legends of Rupganj but began his first-class career yesterday when he opened the innings for Dhaka Metro. It was however not a happy start for the left-hander as Hasan Mahmud bowled him for nine.
SCORES IN BRIEF
KHULNA V RANGPUR
KHULNA: First innings-272-7 in 86 overs (Anamul 56, Soumya 76, Ziaur 33 not out, Mahedi 37; Sajedul 4-57, Saddam 1-49,
DHAKA METRO V CHATTOGRAM
DHAKA METRO: First innings-266-6 in 90 overs (Shadman 36, Shamsur 50 retired hurt, Zabid 79 not out, Sharifullah 45, Taskin 21 not out; Hasan 2-73, Nayeem 1-61, Shakhawat 2-36)
