Bowlers thrive in Ctg, Jahurul in Cox’s Bazar

Bowlers dominated the opening day of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) as 15 wickets fell in the first-class match played between Central Zone and North Zone at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday.

Sent in to bat, North kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for 169 runs despite Saif Hasan top-scoring with 73 off 105 balls, featuring eleven fours and a six. Mushfik Hasan and Abu Haider bagged three wickets apiece for Central.

In reply, the reigning champions also got themselves in a spot of bother and were 128 for five at day's close, trailing by 41 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik and Sharifullah remained unbeaten on 37 and 35, respectively, having stitched 64 runs for the sixth-wicket stand, and will be hoping to take a first-innings lead tomorrow.

Nayeem Ahmed picked up two while Salauddin Sakil, Nahid Rana, and Sohrawardi Shuvo scalped a wicket each for North.

Meanwhile, at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox's Bazar, Jahurul Islam stayed nine runs short of a ton as East Zone amassed 262 for six against the last edition's runners-up South Zone on the opening day.

Jahurul's unbeaten 196-ball 91 saw nine fours and two sixes, while Shahadat Hossain Dipu and former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful contributed for East's cause with 60 and 49, respectively.

Pacer Sumon Khan remained the pick of the bowlers for South with three dismissals, while off-spinner Nahidul Islam picked two.