Prime Bank South Zone emerged champions in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) longer-version completing a draw against Islami Bank East Zone on the 4th and final day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
In the day’s play, Prime Bank South Zone (385 runs in the first innings) resumed the second innings with an advantage of 369 runs lead, including overnight 231 runs for 4 in 54 overs, and raised the lead margin to 590 runs scoring 452 runs for 9 in 107.2 overs, spurred by the centurions as well as overnight fifth wicket stand of 176 runs in 35.4 overs between Soumya and Mosaddek.
Centuries from Soumya Sarkar and Mosaddek Hossain took Prime Bank to the driver’s seat by lunch on day 4. East Zone then batted out the formality of 34 overs, scoring 166 for 3 after which both sides agreed to a drawn result.
Brief score:
Prime Bank South Zone first innings: 385 for all in 109.2 overs; Shahriar Nafees 96, Mohammad Mithun 95, Imrul Kayes 56, Anamul Haque 39, Abdur Razzak 35, Abul Hasan 3/31, Nazmul Apu 3/78, Ahmed Sadikur 2/83, Alok Kapali 1/10, Kamrul Islam Rabbi 1/61.
Islami Bank East Zone first innings: 247 for all in 83.3 overs; Shadman Islam 87, Abul Hasan 50, Liton Kumar 38, Shohag Gazi 4/62, Al Amin Hossain 3/45, Abdur Razzak 2/73.
Prime Bank South Zone second innings: 452 for 9 in 107.2 overs (overnight 231 for 4 in 54 overs); Soumya Sarker 127, Mosaddek Hossain 119, Anamul Haque 70, Nurul Hasan 34, Shohag Gazi 29, Mustafizur Rahman 14, Abul Hasan 3/26, Abu Jayed 2/77, Nazmul Apu 2/87.
Islami Bank East Zone second innings: 166 for 3 in 34 overs; Liton Kumar 74, Alok Kapali not out 55, Sadman Islam 29, Al Amin Hossain 3/43.
In the other match of round 3, Walton Central Zone finished third in the four-team fray, coming from behind beating BCB North Zone by 80 runs in the other match also on day four at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Walton Central Zone bagged 33 points with one win, one draw and one loss with -3.923 net run rate while fourth place finisher BCB North Zone tasted one draw and two losses to secure 18 points with 0.087 net run rate.
Central Zone off-spinner Shuvagata Hom picked up 5 in the first and 4 in the second, and it was justified for the spinner to bag the man of the match award for bowling out his opponents and getting to the victory.
The highlights of the match were also the century from Central Zone’s Mahmudullah, a fifty by North Zone’s Sabbir Rahman, and a 3-for in the second innings by Central Zone quick Shohid, as they all gear up for the upcoming Test series against India in two weeks time.
Winning toss at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Walton skipper Mosharraf Hossain chose to bat first on Sunday and scored 289 runs in the first innings with a century from Mahmudullah.
In reply, BCB scored 287 runs in the first innings. With a 2-run lead, Walton started batting in the second innings and added more 200 runs before getting all out in the third day on Tuesday. Chasing a 203-run target in the second innings, BCB were all out scoring only 122 runs.
Brief Score
Walton Central Zone first innings: 289/10 in 92 overs; Mahmudullah 113, Marshal Ayub 87, Shahid 32, Taijul Islam 5/113, Delwar Hossain 2/42.
BCB North Zone first innings: 287/10 in 71.5 overs; Sabbir Rumman 75, Farhad Hossain 67, Mukter Ali 42, Nasir Hossain 34, Zunaid Siddique 28, Shuvagata Hom 5/78, Shahidul Islam 4/55.
Walton Central Zone second innings: 200 for all 83.1 overs; Mehrab Hossain Jr 54, Shuvagata Hom 36, Mahmudullah 35, Marshal Ayub 30, Abdul Majid 29, Mahmudul Hasan 4/53, Mukter Ali 2/36, Taijul Islam 2/73.
BCB North Zone second innings: 122 for all in 40.4 overs (overnight 11 for 2 in 2 overs); Mahmudul Hasan 34, Sabbir Rumman 32, Taijul Islam 20, Forhad Hossain 11, and Ariful Haque 10, Shohid 1/3, Shuvagata Hom 4/35, Mosharraf Hosaain 3/27, Shohid 3/ 32.
