South Zone secures BCL title in domination fashion
Photo- Walton
|| CF Correspondent ||
Prime Bank South Zone clinched the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) title for record fourth time after they secured a comprehensive nine-wicket win over BCB North Zone in the sixth and final round of the league on Thursday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
Resuming the fourth and final day on 186-5, North Zone were bowled out for 280, leaving South Zone paltry chase of 33 runs and the South Zone took just 7.1 overs to complete the inevitable, by making 35 for one. Thereby they ensured they would retain the title by winning the seventh edition of the country’s premier first class tournament.
They were also the champions in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 season.
Opener Anamul Haque Bijoy who struck 180 in the first innings was not out on run-a-ball-20 while Fazle Mahmudu was on 8. Shahriar Nafees was the only fallen batsman with 7.
Having conceded 248-run first innings lead, North Zone avoided the innings defeat thanks to Ziaur Rahman’s 77 not out. Ziaur smashed six sixes and two fours in his 121-ball knock.
Opener Junaid Siddique was the other notable scorer with 77 while Naeem Islam made 67. Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak returned figures of 5-75.
Razzak finished the match with 12-144 to pick up the Player-of-the-Match honours.
The seasoned campaigner took seven wickets in North Zone's first innings, restricting them to 293 runs in 83.4 overs. Ariful Haque missed a century by two runs as he made 98 off 151 balls with six fours and three sixes. He added 135 runs for the seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman, who scored 69 off 103 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
South Zone replied strongly, making 541 in 125.3 overs, with centuries from Anamul Haque and Al-Amin. The pair added 176 for the fourth wicket before Al-Amin retired hurt when he was on 110. He eventually made 128 off 161 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. Anamul struck 16 fours in his 180 off 314 balls, that spanned seven hours and 44 minutes. Sunzamul Islam took 6-158.
