It was coming. From the moment the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to replace the Dukes with the Kookaburra for its four-day competition, everyone involved in the National Cricket League (NCL), from officials and cricketers to reporters, could sense a run fest was on the cards.
The second day of the second round of this season’s NCL delivered just that, with five centuries scored across the four matches. The switch to the Kookaburra ball appears to have made run-scoring easier, with batters across the country cashing in on the conditions and piling up big totals.
Khulna Division’s Shak Mahedi Hasan, who missed the first round, made an immediate impact against Rajshahi Division at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. After claiming six wickets with the ball, he struck his seventh first-class century to put Khulna firmly in command.
Mahedi, who took 6-38 in Rajshahi’s first innings, continued his dominance with 104 off 118 balls, striking 10 fours and two sixes. He brought up his century off 111 balls but fell in the following over. Khulna reached 463-9 by the end of the second day, stretching their lead to 344 runs after bowling Rajshahi out for just 119 in the first innings.
At the Cox’s Bazar Academy Ground, Chattogram’s Shahadat Hossain Dipu struck his fourth first-class century before Sadikur Rahman made 149 against Barishal. Chattogram finished the day on 479-4, leading by 197 runs after Barishal’s first-innings total of 282.
At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Dhaka piled up 547-6 before declaring against Sylhet, with three centuries in the innings. Naim Sheikh scored 137 on the opening day, while Marshall Ayub made 175 and captain Mahidul Islam added 108. Sylhet ended the day at 154-2, trailing by 393 runs. Captain Zakir Hasan scored 62, while Mubin Ahmed fell for 48.
Rangpur also posted a big total, declaring at 422-9 against Mymensingh. Mim Mosaddek led the way with 157. In reply, Mymensingh reached 183-6 at stumps, with Mahfijul Robin scoring 72 and Ariful Islam making 46, leaving them 239 runs behind.
