Imrul shines with tremendous double-ton
Barisal were the only winning team with all the other matches ending in a draw.
Left-handed opener Imrul Kayes grabbed the limelight on the final day of the first round of the National Cricket League (NCL) scoring a double-ton for Khulna Division at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium on Sunday. Riding on his double-ton, Khulna drew the game with Rangpur Division.
In the Tier-one game, Rangpur batted first and scored 227 with fifties from Tanbir Hyder (64) and Sohrawordi Shuvo (50). In reply, Khulna posted 454-9 with Imrul scoring 202 and declared the innings. In their second innings, Rangpur scored 33 for one before the umpires put off the bails on the final day and the game ended in a draw.
The other game of Tier-one between Dhaka Division and Rajshahi Division also ended in a draw at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on the same day.
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Batting first, Dhaka posted 240 with the help of Taibur Rahman (88) and Rony Talukdar (63). Rajshahi replied scoring 197 only in spite of fifties from Jahurul Islam (64) and Mushfiqur Rahim (75).
Dhaka came up with 254 in their second innings as Taibur hit 88 again and Raqibul Hasan hit 65. They set 298 as the target for Rajshahi in the final innings of the game. However, Rajshahi ended the final day on 106-5.
Despite the first day of the match being washed out due to rain, Barisal won the Tier-two game against Sylhet by an innings and 13 runs at the Shaheed Qamaruzzaman Stadium on Sunday.
Sylhet managed to score only 86 in the first innings of the match, many thanks to the brilliance of Kamrul Islam Rabbi. The right-arm pacer of Barisal bagged six wickets in the opening innings. Barisal scored 231-8 and declared their innings. In their second innings, Sylhet tumbled for 132 and lost the game in a negative note.
The other Tier-two game between Chattogram Division and Dhaka Metro ended in a draw. Chattogram posted 290 in the first innings of the match with fifties from Tasamul Haque (90) and Sadikur Rahman (50). Arafat Sunny bagged six for Dhaka.
In reply, Dhaka Metro posted 354 with a good show from Shamsur Rahman (55), Mahmudullah (63), Zabid Hossain (85) and Shahidul Islam (83).
In their second innings, Chattogam scored 227-5 and the game ended in a draw.
Best five performers of NCL first round:
Imrul Kayes of Khulna: scored 202 against Rangpur
Taijul Islam of Rajshahi: bagged nine wickets including a five-for against Dhaka Division
Taibur Rahman of Dhaka Division: scored 176 against Rajshahi with 88 in each innings
Tasamul Haque of Chattogram Division: scored 143 against Dhaka Metro with 90 and 53
Sumon Khan of Dhaka Division: took seven wickets with a five-for against Chattogram Division
