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Khulna, Dhaka Metro in charge
Sports Reporter
The excitement was dialled up on the second day of the National Cricket League fourth-round game between Rangpur Division and Khulna Division as 12 wickets fell and a hundred scored in the Tier-1 contest at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Despite a horrible collapse it was Khulna who took control thanks to Mahedi Hasan’s fifth first-class ton, which was instrumental in his side taking a nine-run first-innings lead after the batsman came in at number eight and lifted Khulna to 233 all out.
In reply, Rangpur were in a spot of bother and ended the day on 67 for four. Khulna’s premier left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who picked up seven wickets in the first innings and became the first Bangladeshi to pick 600 first-class wickets, bagged another three in Rangpur’s second innings. Rangpur will resume the third day leading by 58 runs with six wickets in hand.
Earlier, resuming on 24 for four Khulna kept losing wickets at regular intervals and at one point were reeling on 80 for eight. Mahedi then got valuable support from Rubel Hossain during a brilliant 133-run ninth wicket stand.
Mahedi was eventually dismissed for 119 off 150 balls, which included 15 fours and a six, while Rubel remained not out on 36 off 109 balls when Khulna were bundled out.
Right-arm pacer Robiul Haque registered his maiden five-wicket haul and ended up with figures of five for 41 from 18 overs.
In Tier-2, Dhaka Metropolis were on the cusp of a big win over hosts Chattogram Division, who were forced to follow on and were still trailing by 216 runs with seven wickets in hand in their second innings.
Dhaka posted a huge first innings total of 403 all out, with centurion Shadman Islam eventually dismissed for 178 runs off 276 balls, which featured 23 fours and two sixes.
Later it was Dhaka Metro’s bowlers who took charge as off-spinner Sharifullah and pacer Taskin Ahmed picked up four and three wickets respectively to bundle out Chattogram for just 91 in 30.5 overs. Sadikur Rahman’s 22 was the highest score as the hosts were asked to follow on.
There was little change in Chattogram’s second innings as they lost three quick wickets before Pinak Ghosh struck an unbeaten fifty and the hosts will resume the third day on 96 for three, with a mountain to climb to save the game.
In the other Tier-2 game Sylhet Division were in control as Barishal Division were still trailing by 148 runs with nine wickets in hand in their second innings.
Resuming on 82 for one, Sylhet secured a 160-run first-innings lead by posting 322, riding on fifties from Shanaj Ahmed (73) and Zakir Hasan (53). Left-arm spinner Monir Hossain picked up three wickets for Barishal.
In reply, Barishal lost opener Rafsan Al Mahmud for a duck. Mohammad Ashraful and skipper Fazle Mahmud will resume the day with the score on 12 for one.
In the Tier-1 game in Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka Division took the first-innings lead over Rajshahi Division and ended the day on 284 for four, riding on unbeaten nineties from Tainur Rahman (92 not out) and Shuvagata Hom (93 not out).
Dhaka were however unable to put up a big partnership before Taibur and Shuvagata added an unbeaten 180-run fifth wicket stand. Rajshahi’s left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam picked up three of the four wickets that fell.
SCORES IN BRIEF
RANGPUR V KHULNA
RANGPUR: First innings 224 and second innings 67 for 4 (Mehedi 23, Suhrawardi 24; Razzak 3-12)
KHULNA: First innings 233 all out (Anamul 21, Mahedi 119, Rubel 36 not out; Mukidul 2-71, Sajedul 2-29)
RAJSHAHI V DHAKA DIVISION
RAJSHAHI: First innings 230
DHAKA DIV: First innings 284 for 4 (Saif 28, Raqibul 29, Taibur 93 not out, Shuvagata 92 not out; Sunzamul 3-108)
BARISHAL V SYLHET
BARISHAL: First innings 162 and second innings 12 for 1.
SYLHET: First innings 322 all out (Imtiaz 48, Shanaj 73, Zakir 53, Kapali 29, Jaker 35; Monir 3-69)
DHAKA METROPOLIS V CHATTOGRAM
DHAKA METRO: First innings 403 all out (Shadman 178, Al Amin 83, Shamsur 50, Marshall 40; Mahmud 3-72, Ifran 2-66, Afridi 2-70)
CHATTOGRAM: First innings 91 all out (Sadikur 22; Taskin 3-34, Sharifullah 4-30, Asif 2-7) and second innings 96 for 3 (Pinak 55 not out; Taskin 1-16)