|| CF DESK ||

BCB South Zone registered a 5-wicket triumph over Walton Central Zone in the Independence Cup at Sylhet International Stadium on Thursday.

Towhid Hridoy’s 65 guided South Zone to reach the target of 221 in 48.4 overs with five wickets to spare. Following this win, South Zone earned the ticket to the final which is set to be played against the losing side Central Zone as both teams earned 4 points to progress to the final.

Hridoy smashed three fours and a six to play the knock and Zakir Hasan played a crucial innings of 40 off 49 aided by four boundaries in the middle.

The openers made a good start for the South with Pinak Ghosh striking 54 off 79 with 6 fours and a six, he added 60 runs for the opening partnership with Anamul Haque Bijoy (24).

Hasan Murad picked up a couple of wickets for the Central Zone.

Earlier, Central Zone were invited to bat first. Mustafizur Rahman dismissed both the openers Mizanur Rahman (0) and Soumya Sarkar (5) and scalped two more wickets to return figures of 4 conceding 63 in his 10 overs.

Then Abdul Mazid played a knock of 46 off 95 and Mosaddek Hossain scored 44 off 57 while Taibur Rahman and Al Amin played brief innings of 23 and 25 respectively.

Central Zone lost wickets at regular pattern, in middle Abu Haider Rony played a cameo of 54 from 27 balls smashing 6 fours and 4 sixes. They managed to muster 220 in 50 overs, setting a target of 221.

In the other match, Islami Bank East Zone beat BCB North Zone by four wickets at Sylhet Academy Ground.

Islami Bank chase down the target of 217 in 37.5 overs at ease, with Imrul Kayes stroking 71 of 81 deliveries which featured 8 boundaries. While Tamim Iqbal played a knock of 35 from 38 with 3 fours and one six.

East Zone bundled up North Zone for 216 runs, Mahmudullah Riyad top-scored with 66 runs for North and skipper Marshal Ayub hit 54.