Dhaka Division strengthened their lead in Tier 1 after beating the defending champions Rangpur Division for ten windows in Cox’s Bazar. They moved to 28 points, fourteen more than second-placed Dhaka Metropolis, while Rangpur languishes in last place with just eight points.
Salauddin Sakil was Dhaka’s star player with eight wickets. Rangpur were bowled out for 158 runs in 67 overs on the first day, with Sakil taking six wickets in the first innings. Dhaka took a lead of 163 runs when they responded with 321 runs. However, they fell to 87 for six before Nadif and Nazmul Islam added 123 runs for the seventh wicket. When Nadif fell on 93, Dhaka were 242 for eight, but Sumon Khan scored his third first-class fifty as his lead increased to over 150. Sumon and Anamul Haque added 57 runs for the ninth wicket.
Nazmul, the left-arm bowler, followed up his batting contribution with a six-wicket haul in Rangpur’s reply in the third innings. They were bowled out for 178 runs, with Anik Sarker making 69. Apart from Nazmul’s 6-56, Sakil and Taibur Rahman won two each. Dhaka then took 3.2 overs to complete the 16-run chase on the third day.
While the bowlers dominated on one pitch in Cox’s Bazar, the other pitch was a run-fest. Dhaka Metropolis tied his match with Sylhet Division with double centuries from Shadman Islam and Naeem Islam in a marathon third-wicket partnership.
Shadman scored a career-best 250, his second double century in first-class cricket. His previous double hundred was in March this year, also at the Cox’s Bazar venue. He added 434 runs for the third wicket with Naeem, who made 221. This is the highest third-wicket stand in Bangladesh, the previous being the 326 runs between Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels in Khulna in 2012. It is also the second highest. defend any window in Bangladesh.
This was also Naeem’s second double century, the last one occurring six years ago. He hit 23 fours and five sixes in his nine-hour stay at the crease. Shadman batted for three minutes short of six hours, hitting 28 fours and a six in his 437-ball stay.
Sylhet responded to Dhaka Metro’s declared 601 to 5 with 494 runs in the next two days. Shamsur Rahman reached his 22nd first-class century, while Tawfique Khan, Zakir Hasan, Jaker Ali, Sahanur Rahman and Abu Jayed reached fifties. There was enough time for Dhaka Metro to manage 23 overs, in which Mohammad Naim and Zahiduzzaman reached unbeaten fifties.
Level 2: The race for promotion intensifies
The race for promotion to Level 1 has really heated up after Chattogram division crushed Barishal Division for 300 tracks in Sylhet. They bowled Barishal for 54 runs in the fourth innings, their lowest total ever. This was Chattogram’s third win this season, the first time since 2011-12 that they have won at least three games in the season.
They set up the game with 298 runs by batting first, with Parvez Hossain and Mominul Haque coming out in the eighties. Barishal was dismissed for 200 runs in reply, with offspinner Nayeem Hasan and Fahad Hossain taking three wickets each.
Mominul came out in the eighties for the second time when Chattogram declared 256 for 9 in his second innings. Barishal, however, had no answer to Chattogram’s bowling in the fourth innings, being bowled out for 54. Only Shamsul Islam managed double figures and top-scored with ten runs. Nayeem won 5-21, while Fahad and Ifran Hossain won two each.
Khulna Division defeated Rajshahi Division by an innings and 109 runs in Sylhet. They are level with Chattogram on 25 points in the Tier 2 points table as both sides now compete head to head for promotion from Tier 1 next season.
Khulna banked on centuries from Imrul Kayes and Nurul Hasan to post 472 in 135.2 overs, in reply to Rajshahi’s 185 in the first innings. However, Imrul and Nurul did not bat together in the innings. Imrul added 151 runs for the opening stand with Anamul Haque, who made 73. Soumya Sarkar then scored 86, adding 83 runs with Imrul, who made 115 with twelve fours and two sixes.
Nurul took Khulna’s batting from 249 for 4 to 472 all out, making 125 off 18 balls with twelve fours and two sixes. Sunzamul Islam and Taijul Islam took four wickets each. Rajshahi were then bowled out for 178 runs in the second innings, with Al-Amin Hossain taking a five-wicket haul. Nahidul Islam also got three wickets.
