Rony hits ton on NCL opening day

Dhaka division opener Rony Talukdar struck the first century of the 25th edition of the National Cricket League (NCL), hitting a 112-ball 102 against Rangpur on the opening day of their Tier 1 encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka today. 

Rony nearly carried his bat through the innings before departing as the final batter, as Rangpur bundled out Dhaka for just 166.

Pacer Nobin Islam was the pick of the Rangpur bowlers, finishing with five for 28. 

Rony started his morning with a punch through the covers for four and kept dealing in boundaries, hitting 19 fours against the seaming and swinging duke ball while wickets kept falling at regular succession at the other end.

Only two other Dhaka batters got into double figures as they got bundled out for a paltry total.

In reply, the defending champions Rangpur ended the day at 133 for three with Mim Mosaddek unbeaten on 55.

At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Pinak Ghosh and Mominul put on a second wicket partnership of 191 for Chattogram division against Barishal in their Tier 2 match, however, both batters missed out on tons.

Sohag Gazi turned things around for Barishal as he first got Mominul caught at short-leg for 94, which was followed shortly by a Yasir Ali run out for naught. 

Gazi then produced an excellent delivery that went past Pinak's defensive push to rattle the stumps for 96.

Gazi finished with five for 54 while Kamrul Rabbi picked up two as Chattogram slumped from 198 for 1 to 238 all-out. Barishal closed out the day at 28 for 2.

In the Tier 1 game at Sylhet Academy Ground in Sylhet, Dhaka Metro reached 242 for 9 after fifties from opener Shadman Islam and veteran Naeem Islam with the latter unbeaten on 65 at close.

Afif Hossain struck a 50-ball 63 while Mohammad Mithun's 56 and Anamul Haque Bijoy's 47 saw Khulna division manage 288 runs before running out of wickets against Rajshahi at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. 

Rajshahi pacer Al-Amin Hossain picked up two wickets in four overs as Rajshahi reached 15 for 2 at stumps.