Rajshahi demolish Barisal within four sessions

Rajshahi Division inflicted an ignominious innings defeat to Barisal Division in the second morning of their four-day match in the second round of NCL as other three matches at different venues were well poised on Tuesday. 

At the number four ground of BKSP, Savar, where the pitch seemed like a minefield for the batsmen, Barisal were bundled out for 60 in the second innings and Rajshahi’s 151 was enough to secure a big win of innings and nine runs as the former were all out for 82 in their first innings. 

Two left arm spinners wreaked havoc as Sanajamul Islam returned with 6-15 and Taijul ended with a figure of 4-23. Sanjamul, who got 4-18 in the first innings, ended with a match figure of 10-33 and created a record as nobody in Bangladesh’s first-class history got a haul of 10 or more wickets conceding lesser runs. Sanajamul broke the record of Ruyel Miah, who got 13-65 two seasons age, playing for Sylhet against Chittagong.

Despite the record of Sanajamul, his partner in demolition, Taijul Islam was adjudged man of the match as his blistering 37 off 42 batting at number ten along with eight-wicket haul in the match was considered much more impactful in the low scoring match. 

Barishal resumed the day on 23-1 and it was hardly imaginable what was to come as they were 53-2 at one stage. Sunzamul instigated the most dramatic collapse by removing opener Moinul Islam, who scored highest 28, in the 24th over. The rest of the wickets fell like pack of cards as Barishal lost last eight wickets for just seven runs. 

Barishal’s match aggregate of 142 runs is also the lowest in first-class matches played in Bangladesh. BCB academy scored 167 runs, the previous lowest, against visiting Zimbabweans in 2009 while Chittagong Division amassed 180 against Rajshahi back in 2011. 

Chittagong v Dhaka Mero 

In another tier 2 match at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong declared on 402-8 before Metro finished the day on 132-3.

Pinak Ghosh, who  was not out on 137 overnight, got out for 159 as Chittagong moved on resuming the day on 281-4. Other overnight batsman Shahadat Hossain got 53 and Nayeem Hasan scored a rapid 27-run innings. Arafat Sunny was the pick of the Metro bowlers with 3-120.

In reply, Dhaka’s Shamsur Rahman got 68 and added 118 runs in the second wicket with Zahiduzzaman who remained not out on 46. 

Sylhet Division v Dhaka Division  

In the tier 1 match at Academy Stadium at Cox’s Bazar Sylhet resumed on 282-6 before getting all out for 370. Shuvagata Hom got 4-86 for Dhaka. 

Shuvagata also starred with bat in hand as the Dhaka all-rounder remained not out on 89 overnight.

Khulna v Rangpur 

Khulna’s Ariful Haque missed his century for just three runs but his 97-run innings helped his side get a 141-run lead as they scored 364 in reply to Rangpur’s 221 at the Cricket Garden, Rangpur. 

Rangpur’s Masum Khan got 4-78 before the hosts lost a wicket scoring four runs at stumps.