Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 8th National Cricket League
Dhaka, Rajshahi stay alive
7 tons mark penultimate round
Sports Reporter
The penultimate round of the limi-ted-overs Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 8th National Cricket League was marked by record number of centuries as seven batsmen reached three-digit figures in high-scoring encounters yesterday.Mehrab Hossain Opee, Alok Kapali, Mahbubul Karim, Dhiman Ghosh, Junaid Siddiquee, Anisur Rahman and Nasiruddin Faruque scripted hundreds to their names on a terrifying day for the bowlers. Dhaka survived a scare to manage an exciting two-run victory over Khulna at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium to make tomorrow's last-round game against Rajshahi at the same venue a virtual final. The title will be decided in the last round as Rajshahi's winning streak was snapped by Chittagong at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium while Barisal registered their second win with a four-wicket victory over Sylhet at BKSP. DHAKA-KHULNA
Mehrab hit a blazing unbeaten 155 off 127 balls with 19 fours and a pair of sixes as Dhaka amassed 335-3 after deciding to bat first. Al-Shahriar chipped in with 59 off 46 balls that saw six fours and two sixes while Nazmul Hossain played a cameo knock 56 as he smashed four boundaries and five over boundaries in his 20-ball unbeaten innings. Pointless Khulna, however, were not ready to give up without a fight as they bounced back from 68-3 to 333-9 in 50 overs. Mazhar top scored 85 off 105 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Asadullah Khan (68 off 51 balls) and Fahim Muntasir (54 off 31 balls) were the other notable scorers. RAJSHAHI-CHITTAGONG
Mahbubul and Dhiman smashed tons during a 290-run third wicket stand as Chittagong scored 333-6 in 42.5 overs on way to a magnificent four-wicket win over Rajshahi, who failed to defend a huge 329-6 in 50 overs. Rajshahi's innings was built around Junaid's 104 (97balls, 4x10, 6x3) and Anisur's unbeaten 106 (98 balls, 9x4, 6x2). Mahbubul clobbered ten fours and eight sixes to score 145 off 121 balls while Dhiman hit 19 fours and a six to score 147 off 100 balls. BARISAL-SYLHET
Kapali hit his second hundred in the meet -- a 77-ball 101 -- to give Sylhet a fighting total of 288-8 in the curtailed 43-overs match. But Nasiruddin swung the match Barisal's way with an 87-ball 115, laced with 16 fours and two sixes. Rokibul Hasan's unbeaten 93 also was inspirational as Barisal cruised to 293-6 in 37.4 overs.
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