Mohammad Mithun and Mizanur Rahman of Walton Central Zone have been jointly adjudged man of the match. Left-arm spinner Hasan Murad claimed a career-best 6-74 in an innings of the first class cricket as Walton Central Zone made a superb start to the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) with an innings and 70-run win over BCB North Zone at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Wednesday, reports BSS.
Central Zone's victory looked all but sure when they reduced North Zone to 172-5 on day three, leaving them needing 172 runs more to avoid the innings defeat.
North Zone's only consolation could be to force Central Zone to bat second time, which also may help to salvage the game but they simply were unable to do that, largely due to the wily spin of Hasan Murad.
The left-arm spinner finished with 6-74 to wrap up North Zone for 274 runs in their second innings and ensured the side's innings victory.
Captain Marshal Ayub who began the day with 28, went on to score his 22nd first class century as he struck 101 off 246 with 14 boundaries. No one could play around him to make the day meaningful for the North Zone. Only Mohidul Islam Ankon gave him some support, making 25 runs. The rest of the batters were dismissed to single digit figures.
Earlier on day four, opener Tanzid Hasan made 90 runs for the side.
Robiul Haque snapped up 3-23 to complement Murad's effort.
Earlier, put into bat first, North Zone were bowled out for 219. Central Zone then took the full command after declaring first and their only innings at 563-3, thanks to ton from Mohammad Mithun (176), Mizanur Rahman (162) and Soumya Sarkar (104 not out). Mithun and Mizanur combined for a 327-run partnership for their opening stand, which was the third best opening partnership for Bangladesh in first class cricket.
As Central Zone took a staggering 344-run lead, North Zone needed to do extremely well in their second innings but they eventually couldn't do it.
Mithun and Mizanur were adjudged man of the match jointly for their epic effort.
Another BSS report from Rajshahi adds: A terrific 158-run from Zakir Hasan led South Zone to an eight-wicket victory against Islami Bank East Zone in the first round of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi Wednesday.
Zakir's monumental knock made eventual difference as East Zone couldn't make the lead bigger despite wiping out the deficit.
East Zone were bowled out for 260 in the first innings but thanks to Zakir's 158-run knock, South Zone piled up 429 and took a handsome 169-run lead.
East Zone then were bowled out for 257 in the second innings, setting only 89-run for South Zone to win the game on the final and fourth day.
South Zone raced to the victory effortless, making 90-2 with Towhid Hridoy leading the day with 54 not out.
Zakir, however, didn't need to bat in the second innings. Amit Hasan was unbeaten with 19 alongside Hridoy when South Zone completed the inevitable.
Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy who made 88 in the first innings, scored 11 while his opening partner Pinak Ghosh could make only 02.
Fast bowler Rejaur Rahman Raja took two wickets for 16 runs.
Earlier, East Zone began the day on 195-5 with Afif Hossain remaining the only hope for them to salvage the game. But beginning the day with overnight 73, Afif couldn't make any significant impact as he added just 13 more runs to be out for 86. He struck eight fours and three sixes in his knock for which he played 125 balls.
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