||Desk Report||

Two crucial innings from the lower middle-order saved the day for Dhaka Metropolis after five of their top six batsman failed to make any impact against Chittagong Division in their Tier 2 clash in the National Cricket League.

It did not take long for Hasan Mahmud to provide an early breakthrough for Chittagong before Shadman Islam and Shamsur Rahman somewhat restored the innings for Dhaka Metro.

Hasan also dismissed Shadman for 36 runs and following his departure Dhaka faced a disaster as Shamsur, too, retired hurt after a while, scoring 50 runs. Both Mohammad Ashraful and Mehrab Hossain Jnr then got dismissed for a duck and Shykat Ali also fell cheaply.

However, Zabid Hossain and Sharifullah weathered the storm for Dhaka with a 76-run stand and the former finished the first day of play remaining unbeaten on 79 runs. Sharifullah added 45 crucial runs to the Dhaka’s 266-run total.

Zabid will resume Dhaka’s innings on day-2 along with Taskin Ahmed, who is not out on 21 runs. With four wickets in hand, they can undoubtedly hope a better score despite all the wobble in the middle.

Another Tier 2 clash between Dhaka Division and Sylhet Division and the Tier 1 clash between Barisal Division and Rajshahi Division saw the first day’s play being called off without a ball being bowled due to rain. All the teams have already had a rain-marred second round in the tournament.