The fifth round of the National Cricket League produced a series of standout performances, with Soumya Sarkar and Marshall Ayub scoring centuries, while Rangpur pacer Mukidul Islam wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul.
In Khulna, Soumya narrowly missed a double century as his side built a strong total against Mymensingh. The left-hander scored 186 off 222 balls, hitting 24 fours and 5 sixes, before being dismissed LBW by Shubhagata Holmes. His partner, Kalam Siddiqui, contributed 77 runs in a 230-run second-wicket stand. Khulna ended the day on 328 for 6, with Ziaur Rahman unbeaten on 8. Shubhagat Hossain took three wickets for Mymensingh, while Abdullah Hil Galib, Shahidul Islam, and Arif Ahmed claimed one each.
Chattogram division also made progress, bowling out Sylhet for just 255. Ifran Hossain starred with 5 wickets for 65 runs, supported by Mehedi Hasan’s three and single wickets for Naeem Hasan and Ashraful Hasan. Mahiyuddin Tarek claimed the lone wicket in Chattogram’s reply, which closed at 19 for 1.
Meanwhile, at the Rajshahi ground, captain Sabbir Hossain and Rahim Ahmed narrowly missed centuries, scoring 84 off 72 balls and 77 respectively. Rangpur pacer Mukidul dominated with 5 for 42, reducing Rajshahi to 268 all out.
In Cox’s Bazar, Marshall Ayub returned to form with his 28th first-class century, remaining unbeaten on 118 for Barishal against Dhaka. Ashiqur Rahman Shibli also contributed a half-century, and the duo’s 135-run partnership helped Dhaka reach 246 for 7 by the close. Early setbacks saw Dhaka reduced to 18 for 3, but Marshall and Ashiqur steadied the innings. Mughd took three wickets for Barishal, while Touhidul Islam claimed three wickets at Cox’s Bazar.
