South Zone suffer batting collapse

The Walton Central Zone trailed by 37 runs against Prime Bank South Zone on the first day of the four-day 5th round Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Sent into bat first, Prime Bank South Zone were bundled out cheaply for 191 runs in 49.5 overs in the first innings. Opener Fazle Mahmud was contributing the team highest 40 runs off 41 balls, featuring eight boundaries.

Skipper Nurul Hasan scored 28 runs off 38 balls hitting three fours and one six, national opener Imrul Kayes made 36-ball 26 runs with one four and two sixes, national opener Anamul Haque scored 30-ball 23 runs.

Besides, lower order Mosharraf Hossain scored not out 21 off 47 balls hitting three fours. Mohammad Mithun made 36-ball 18 runs including two fours. Tushar Imran scored 38-ball 14 runs including two fours.

Ebadat Hossain and Mosharraf Hossain grabbed four wickets each conceding 32 and 57 runs respectively while Salahuddin Shakil took two for 50 runs.

In reply, lowly Walton Central Zone scored 154 for 2 in 35 overs when bails were drawn for the first day (Tuesday) with opener Shadman Islam making an unconquered 66 runs off 100 balls featuring nine boundaries.

Besides, one down Abdul Mazid contributed 58-ball 44 runs with help of six boundaruies, another opener Saif Hasan made 37-ball 30 runs hitting five boundaries while Marshall Ayub made 15-ball 14 runs with three boundaries.

Nayeem Hassan and veteran Abdur Razzak claimed one wicket each giving away 43 and 51 runs respectively.

Meanwhile, league leader BCB North Zone scored 204 for 5 in 65 overs in the first innings against Islami Bank East Zone on the first day at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in the city on Tuesday.

Sent into bat first, BCB North Zone lost three wickets--national coloured opener Junaid Siddique (7), Mizanur Rahman (46) and Farhad Hossain (8)--for 87 runs in 24.3 overs. One down Nazmul Hossain Shanta was pairing with skipper Jahurul Islam contributed 77 runs in the 4th wicket stand to carry the team total to 204 runs.

Nazmul Hossain Shanta hammered a polished 73 runs off 109 balls. He was featuring eleven fours, number five Jahurul Islam was in batting with 43 runs off 117 balls hitting three boundaries while lower order Ariful Haque made 41-ball 17 runs with a boundary.

Former national captain Mohammad Ashraful and national all-rounder Shohag Gazi picked up two wickets each conceding 22 and 60 runs respectively. National pacer Mohammad Saifuddin took one for 32 runs.