Amite Hasan and Ashraful Hasan Rihad struck centuries for Sylhet, while Barishal’s Fazle Mahmud also reached three figures on the third day of the fourth round of the National Cricket League (NCL).
Chattogram’s Shahadat Hossain, meanwhile, missed out on a hundred by six runs as rain and dominant batting performances left most of the round’s four matches heading towards draws.
At Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet piled up 575/4 against Khulna, with Amite unbeaten on 171 and Ashraful on 101. After the opening day was washed out by rain, Sylhet’s innings continued into the third day, with Khulna struggling to make further inroads.
Sylhet captain Zakir Hasan, who had scored 160, fell early in the day. Amite then added 73 runs with Asadullah Al Galib before Ashraful joined him at the crease. The pair shared an unbroken 222-run stand off 401 balls.
Amite, who registered his 12th first-class century, faced 296 balls and struck 11 fours and two sixes. He also completed 4,000 runs in first-class cricket. Ashraful reached his hundred off 200 deliveries, hitting 13 fours, as Amite moved within sight of a double century.
In Rajshahi, the hosts were in danger of an innings defeat against Dhaka. After being bowled out for 162 in reply to Dhaka’s 521, Rajshahi reached 215/5 in their second innings after being forced to follow on. They need another 144 runs to avoid defeat by an innings.
Sabbir Hossain scored 52 and Naeem Ahmed made 44, while Sabbir remained unbeaten on 64 at stumps.
In Bogura, Chattogram reached 424/6 in response to Mymensingh’s 465, trailing by just 41 runs. Shahadat was dismissed leg-before for 94, falling six runs short of his century. Tasamul Haque scored 63, Sabbir Hossain Shikdar made 54 and Irfan Shukkur added 53.
At the Sylhet Academy Ground, Barishal took a 41-run first-innings lead over Rangpur. Fazle Mahmud led the way with 124 off 200 balls, hitting 15 fours and four sixes. It was his 11th first-class century and took him past 7,000 runs in the format. Mohammad Abdullah also made a valuable contribution with 67.
