North muster fight while East surrender

BCB North Zone thrived on twin tons to fight out a creditable draw against Prime Bank South Zone. But Islami Bank East Zone failed to take a leaf out of North's stubborn resistance and suffered a huge 227-run defeat against Walton Central Zone on the final day of the Bangladesh Cricket League's fourth round yesterday.

North were under more pressure of the two teams fighting to save their games. Resuming the final day on 154 for two North, who were following on after being dismissed for 242 in reply to South's massive first-innings total of 501, battled gamely at the BKSP in Savar with overnight batsmen Naeem Islam and Farhad Hossain hitting brilliant centuries.

NAEEM ... 129 not out

arhad transformed his overnight 64 to 119 that contained nine fours and three sixes. He featured in a 134-run third wicket stand with Naeem, whose unbeaten 129 eventually saved the match for North. A resolute Naeem, who resumed the day on 24, batted for the whole three sessions of the day when his team finished on 403 for eight. The former national middle-order batsman hit 11 fours and a six in his unconquered innings.

Although off-spinner Nahidul Islam took his second five-wicket haul in the match, his effort was not enough for his side to enforce a result.

 At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, East Zone collapsed like a pack of cards after Central declared their second innings on 282 for seven and set them a stiff target of scoring 400 runs to win.

East were bundled out for 172 in 56.2 overs with off-spinner Shuvagata Hom ripping through the middle and tail with four for 46 after the new-ball pair of Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Mohammad Sharif struck at the top. Alok Kapali fought a lost battle with 71 but support from the other end was few and far between.

The win capped off a brilliant turnaround for Central after they were struck by an Abu Jayed storm on the first morning when they were reduced to 105 for five. Central had two outstanding performers in the match --national team's reserve wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan, who hit 65 in the first innings and followed it up with 45 in the second, and an ageless Mohammad Sharif who hit a crucial 70 in the first innings and finished the match with six wickets.

The next round of the four-team BCL will commence on February 26. 

SCORES IN BRIEF 

CENTRAL ZONE: 328 and 282 for 7 dec (Marshall 73, Taibur 57, Nurul 45; Mominul 2-39, Ebadat 2-47, Kapali 2-52) 

EAST ZONE: 211 and 172 all out in 56.2 overs (Kapali 71; Shuvagata 4-46, Sharif 2-19, Kamrul 2-40) 

Result: Central Zone won by 227 runs. 

SOUTH ZONE: 501 

NORTH ZONE: 242 and 403 for 8 [F/O] (Naeem 129 not out, Farhad 119, Junaid 46, Dhiman 41, Sohrawadi 26; Nahidul 5-130, Rubel 1-24) 

Result: Match drawn