Mohammad Mithun and Nurul Hasan Sohan struck centuries to help Khulna recover from an early collapse on the opening day of the fifth round of the National Cricket League (NCL) on Saturday.
Khulna lost four wickets for just 73 runs after Mymensingh chose to bowl at Khulna Divisional Stadium. However, Mithun and Sohan turned things around with a 167-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Mithun scored 119 off 169 balls, hitting 12 fours and five sixes. It was his 17th first-class century and his first since November 2024.
Sohan also reached three figures and remained unbeaten on 104. The wicketkeeper-batter struck nine fours and two sixes as Khulna finished the day on 280-8.
Yasin Arafat led Mymensingh’s bowling attack with four wickets for 40 runs, while Rakibul Hasan claimed two.
In Bogura, SM Meherob Hasan played a fighting innings to help Rajshahi recover from a poor start against Rangpur. The match began 90 minutes late because of a wet outfield. Rajshahi then lost five wickets for just 42 runs.
Imon Ali and captain Pritom Hasan departed without scoring. Sabbir Hossain, Naim Ahmed and Shakir Hossain also failed to make an impact.
Meherob tried to rebuild the innings with Sanjamul Islam, but the latter fell with the total on 63. He then joined Nihad Uz Zaman to steady the innings. The pair remained unbeaten and helped Rajshahi reach 155-6 at stumps.
Meherob finished on 82 off 132 balls, with 13 fours, while Nihad remained unbeaten on 28. Mehedi Hasan was Rangpur’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 37 runs.
Meanwhile, Hasan Murad claimed four wickets in his 50th first-class match as Chattogram bowled out Sylhet for 218. The left-arm spinner finished with 4-74, while off-spinner Ashraful Hasan Rohan took three wickets for 31 runs.
Sylhet struggled after Zakir Hasan and Amite Hasan failed to repeat their strong performances from the previous round.
Ashraful Hasan Rihad, who had scored two centuries in the first four rounds, led the innings with 51.
Khaled Ahmed and Iqbal Hossain added 41 runs for the final wicket in just 23 balls to push Sylhet past 200. Khaled scored 28, while Iqbal remained unbeaten on 13.
Chattogram made a positive start in reply through Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Sadikur Rahman.
However, Asadulla Al Galib dismissed Sadikur for 28 in the final over of the day.
Joy remained unbeaten on 35 as Chattogram closed on 64-1, still trailing by 154 runs.
Elsewhere, the opening day of the match between Dhaka and Barishal at Rajshahi Divisional Stadium was washed out because of a wet outfield. The teams could not even hold the toss.
