The third round of the National Cricket League delivered a flurry of individual milestones, highlighted by a maiden double century from Rajshahi’s Nayeem Ahmed, a breakthrough hundred by Khulna’s Azizul Hakim and a record breaking half century from Zawad Abrar on Tuesday.
Resuming on 176, Rajshahi’s 21-year-old batsman Nayeem turned his overnight score into an 202* off 267 deliveries, featuring 26 boundaries and a maximum. Rajshahi declared their first innings at 457/7, holding a 228-run lead. In response, Barishal opener Zawad Abrar played a blistering knock, smashing a 22-ball fifty, the fastest in Bangladesh first-class cricket history, before falling just short of a century on 91 as Barishal reached 249/5.
Meanwhile, at the Sylhet Outer Stadium, 19-year-old Khulna opener Azizul staged a remarkable rearguard. Coming in after a top-order collapse, he launched a counter-attack, smashing nine fours and ten sixes to register his maiden first-class century. He added 67 for the final wicket with Safar Ali before falling for 142, lifting Khulna to 323. Chasing 275, Chittagong raced to 130 for 0 through Mahmudul Hasan (60) and Sadikur Rahman (76). However, a dramatic late collapse engineered by concussion substitute Rakib Hawlader reduced Chittagong to 174/5, leaving the match finely balanced heading into the final day.
Elsewhere, Mohammad Naim struck 135 and Taibur Rahman added 93 to guide Dhaka to 342/9 in reply to Mymensingh’s first-innings score of 387. Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan led Mymensingh’s attack with four wickets, while Shuvagata Hom took two.
At the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, Sylhet extended their overall lead against Rangpur to 208 runs, reaching 235/8 in their second innings. Amite Hasan top-scored with a stubborn 94 off 198 balls, while Mehedi Hasan and Abu Hasim picked up two wickets apiece for Rangpur.
