South take lead over Central, North trailing against East in BCL

Prime Bank South Zone took a 48-run lead over league leader Walton Central Zone in the first innings with five wickets in hand on the second day of the four-day fourth round match of Bangladesh Cricket League, reports UNB.

The match was held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.

Walton Central Zone resumed the first innings with 234 for 8 in 92 overs and were all out for 261 runs in 97.4 overs.

Lower order Taibur Rahman, who was on batting with 43 runs, completed a half century making 68 runs off 137 deliveries with seven hits across the rope and one over the rope while number eight Mosharraf Hossain made 72-ball 21 runs, hitting three boundaries.

Earlier on Tuesday, opener Shadman Islam (60), two down Marshall Ayub (44), captain Shuvagata Hom (27), Mosharraf Hossain (21) and Jaker Al (19) were the other main contributors for the Central Zone reaching the double digit.

In reply, Prime Bank South Zone opened the first innings and scored 309 for 5 in 82.1 overs to take a 48-run lead over Central Zone when the bails were drawn for the 2nd day, featuring two good partnerships in the 2nd and 5th wicket stands.

National opener Anamul Haque pairing with one down Fazle Mahmud contributed 146 runs in the 2nd wicket stand while former national cricketer Tushar Imran partnering Raqibul Hasan scored 131 runs in the 5th wicket stand.

Tushar Imran hammered team highest 78 runs off 130 balls featuring nine fours and one six, opener Anamul Haque contributed 77 runs with the help of 10 boundaries, one down Fazle Mahmud scored 99-ball 74 runs, including five fours and three sixes, while middle order Raqibul Hasan made unbeaten 54 runs off 95 balls with four boundaries.

Arafat Sunny claimed three wickets for 104 runs while Yeasin Arafat took two for 42 runs.

In the other league match, BCB North Zone were trailing by 288 runs against Islami Bank East Zone on the 2nd day at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Wednesday.

Islami Bank East Zone resumed the first innings with overnight score of 354 for 3 in 90 overs and were all out for 466 runs in 120.1 overs on Wednesday.

In reply, BCB North Zone scored 178 for 2 in 54 overs at the end of the 2nd day (Wednesday).

Opening batsman cum captain Jahurul Islam scored 124-ball 65 runs featuring 12 fours, another opener Junaid Siddiqui made 78-ball 51 runs with the help of six boundaries, one down Farhad Hossain scored unbeaten 34 runs off 81 deliveries with three fours while Naeem Islam made not out 18 runs off 45 balls.