Terrific South Zone sniffs a record fourth BCL title
Photo: Collected
|| CF Correspondent ||
Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy missed out a well-deserved double century but Prime Bank South Zone sensed a chance to clinch the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) title for the record fourth time after taking an upper-hand over BCB North Zone on day three of the sixth and final round at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Resuming the day on 407-5, the reigning champions compiled a hefty 541 before being all out, acquiring a first innings lead of 248 runs.
North Zone however showed some gritty batting performance in the second innings to end the day on 186-5 but still remained short of 62 runs with five wickets hands to make South batting for the second time in the match.
With huge runs on the board, South Zone bowlers bowled well collectively to put the North Zone in sword and kept the side on course of retaining the title.
Opener Junaid Siddique led North Zone in the second innings, having hit 77 runs while Naeem Islam made 67.
They showed the side a glimpse of hope by sharing 128 runs for the third wicket stand after North Zone was reduced to 16-2.
Nahidul Islam took out Naeem after he smacked seven fours and two sixes in his knock, lasting for 112 balls.
Fresh from his 7-69 in the first innings, Abdur Razzak then removed Ariful Haque (4), who missed a century for two runs in the first innings. But paceman Monir Hossain dealt a killer blow in North Zone’s aspiration to turn the tide, claiming the prized scalp of Junaid. The opener hit just five boundaries in his 144 ball-77.
Ziaur Rahman and Dhiman Ghosh were batting on 15 and five runs respectively but a miracle is needed to deny South Zone a victory and the title.
Earlier, Anamul Haque was left ruing for the double century for which he looked settled. But he could just add 25 runs to his overnight total to be out on 180.
Al-Amin Hossain who retired hurt on 113, came back in batting after the dismissal of Anamul but he too couldn’t continue as South Zone was looking for some quick runs. Al-Amin finally was out on 128 before Abdur Razzak hammered a 22 ball-35 not out to help the side propel past 500 and ensured highest bonus points in batting.
North Zone’s Sunjamul Islam finished with 6-158 but that mattered little.
