Prime Bank South Zone took an overall 245 runs lead with seven wickets in hand against Islami Bank East Zone on the 3rd day of the four-day 4th round match of the 6th Bangladesh Cricket League at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, reports UNB.
Replying to Prime Bank South Zone's first innings total 403 runs, Islami Bank East Zone resumed the first innings on Thursday with overnight total 95 for 3 in 33 overs and were all out for 300 runs in 95.5 overs on the 3rd day, despite a 124-run 7th wicket partnership built by Jaker Ali and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Number seven Jaker Ali contributed the innings highest 76 runs off 154 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, national pacer cum number eight batsman Mohammad Saifuddin scored 146-ball 75 runs, featuring nine fours and two sixes.
Besides, former national all-rounder Aloke Kapali (12) and national coloured all-rounder Shohag Gazi (10) were the other notable scorer for East Zone, apart from opener Liton Das's not out 60 runs made on the 2nd day (Wednesday).
Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who picked up two wickets for 33 runs on Wednesday, finally grabbed four wickets for 93 runs, veteran spinner Abdur Razzak and Nayeem Hasan grabbed three wickets each conceding 68 and 97 runs respectively.
In reply, Prime Bank South Zone opened the 2nd innings in the afternoon and scored 142 for 3 in 32 overs when bails were drawn for the 3rd day (Thursday).
One down Fazle Mahmud contributed 36-ball 42 runs featuring seven fours and one six, opener Shahriar Nafees scored 45-ball 24 runs with four fours, number four Tushar Imran, who hits 130 runs in the first innings, was in batting with 46 runs off 67 balls hitting eight fours while national opener Soumya Sarkar remained not out on 29 runs off 39 balls with three fours and one six.
Former national captain Mohammad Ashraful captured two wickets for 23 runs while Abu Jayed took the remaining one wicket for 39 runs.
Meanwhile, BCB North Zone were trailing by 243 runs against Walton Central Zone on the third day of the four-day first class Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura on Thursday.
After the day's play, the match was almost heading for a draw as both the teams failed to complete their first innings in three days.
Replying to Walton Central Zone's mammoth first innings total of 529 runs, BCB North Zone resumed the first innings with their overnight zero in first over and scored 286 for 7 in 86 overs featuring 83 runs in the 6th wicket stand by former national captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Ariful Haque.
Two down Mushfiqur Rahim hammered unbeaten 101 runs off 199 balls with seven hits to the fence and one over the fence while number seven batsman Ariful Haque contributed 93-ball 42 runs with half of three boundaries and one over boundary.
Besides, one down Nazmul Hossain Shanta quick-fired 36-ball 45 runs hitting nine fours, opener Mizanur Rahman made 55-ball 32 runs with five boundaries, national spinner Taijul Islam scored patient 62-ball 21 runs, including three fours, while Sunzamul Islam made 38-ball 14 runs with two boundaries.