Ariful Islam, Marshall Ayub, Mahmudul Hasan, and Yasir Ali struck hundreds to lit up the opening day of the 27th National Cricket League that began at four different venues on Saturday.聽
Mahmudul and Yasir struck twin hundreds, while Irfan Shukkur made 72 as Chattogram dominated Rajshahi at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.聽
Hasan Murad struck twice to keep Rajshahi reeling at 1-2 at the end of the day after Chattogram posted 401 runs in 82.3 overs.聽
After losing three wickets for 68 runs, Mahmudul and Yasir formed a 221-run partnership for the fourth wicket.聽
Mahmudul struck 127 off 165 with 15 fours and two sixes, while Yasir played a scintillating knock of 129 runs from just 138 deliveries. The right-handed batter struck 10 fours and six sixes after reaching his hundred in 102 balls.聽
Irfan then further elevated Chattogram with his explosive knock of 72 off 63 with 12 fours.聽
Taijul Islam bowled 34 overs to pick up four wickets for 159 runs, while Sujon Hawlader and Meherob Hasan shared four wickets.聽
Ariful smashed his maiden first-class hundred for the newcomer Mymensingh as they posted 268-7 in 80 overs against Sylhet at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium after being asked to bat first.
Ariful scored 101 off 208 with 10 fours and added 127 runs for the fourth wicket with Abdul Mazid, who scored 65, after Mymensingh became 21-3 in the sixth over. The former Under-19 batter then added a further 73 runs with Tahjibul Islam (43) before falling to Asadulla Al Galib.聽
Abu Hider and Shohidul Islam were batting at the stumps after Khaled Ahmed took three for 48 while Galib scalped two.聽
At the Outer Ground of Sylhet International Stadium, Rangpur made 65-2 in 19 overs after Dhaka were all out for 221 in 63.3 overs after being put into bat first.
Abdullah Al Mamun (33*) and nightwatcher Abu Hashim were batting at the close of the play.聽
Earlier, Dhaka found themselves at 13-3 in the sixth over before Marshall and Jishan Alam established a 153-run partnership for the fourth wicket.聽
But the momentum was broken when Jishan was retired hurt after scoring 64, and that triggered a collapse. Dhaka lost their last seven wickets, including Jishan, who finally made 71, for just 50 runs.聽
Marshall reached his 27th first-class hundred in 145 balls and hit 13 boundaries. Abu Hashim, the breakthrough left-arm spinner from NCL T20, was the standout bowler with a 3-47, while Mehedi Hasan and Nasir Hossain each claimed two wickets for Rangpur.聽
Khulna made 312-9 in 85 overs against Barishal at the Khulna Divisional Stadium courtesy of Ziaur Rahman鈥檚 69 and Sheikh Paeviz鈥檚 unbeaten 72. Ziaur came at seven, while Paeviz batted at nine, as they added聽70 runs for the eighth wicket.聽
Openers Soumya Sarkar (37) and Anamul Haque (30) got the start for Khulna after they chose to bat, but neither could get going. Khulna then kept losing wickets before Ziaur and Paeviz鈥檚 fightback.聽
Ruyel Miah and Moin Khan each took three wickets for Barishal.
