||CF Correspondent ||

Mahmudullah Riyad continued his rich vein of form in the National Cricket League (NCL) as he slammed his second successive half-century amid his side Dhaka Metro’s miserable performance on Thursday.

In Tier-2 game of the NCL, Dhaka Metro was bowled out for 246 in its first innings on the first day of their second round game against Sylhet Division at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. Sylhet then ended the day on 5-1 before the bails were drawn.

Little known medium pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja who came up in the match with just one first class game under his belt caused the havoc in Metro’s innings, claiming 4-75.

Rejaur firstly gave the side breakthrough with the wicket of Metro’s opener Rakin Ahmed and then went on to scythe down the middle order.

As the situation was going to be worse, Mahmudullah who struck 63 in the first round game, stool tall. This time also he made 63 off 108 with eight fours. No.8 batsman Shahidul Islam scored 54 to come up as ably support for Mahmudullah and took the side closer to 246, which looked vastly unlikely at one phase.

Enamul Haque Junior and Alok Kapali grabbed two wickets apiece to complement Rejaur’s four-for.

In another Tier-2 game, Chattogram Division got a blow when opener Tamim Iqbal had to skip the match for his muscle strain. Despite the absence of the team’s star opener, they made a decent start, ending day one on 261-4 against Barishal Division at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.