Anamul, Mahadi put Dhaka to sword

Star Online Report

Experienced opener Anamul Haque and young all-rounder Mahadi Hasan put the Dhaka bowlers to the sword as Khulna build on a massive first-innings lead on the second day of their National Cricket League match at the BKSP in Savar today.

The pair put on 281 runs for the unbroken second wicket as Khulna posted 307-1 in reply to Dhaka’s 113 when bad light stopped play well ahead of the schedule.

Desperately looking for a comeback into the nation fold, NCL’s highest run-getter Anamul preferred to play the last round of the league rather than enjoying the break he was granted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. With the home series against Sri Lanka knocking at the door, the right-hander made his innings count.

After national opener Soumya Sarkar, who continued to struggle for a big score, could add only 19 runs to his overnight score of 11, Anamul seized the opportunity, the right-hander remaining not out on 158.

On the other hand Mahadi, who had hogged the spotlight for his spin bowling during the Bangladesh Premier League, hit a blistering unbeaten 168 off 151 balls.

At the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed five wickets as Dhaka Metro were all out for 328 runs after resuming the day on 219 for four.

At the Sylhet International Stadium, off spinner Iftekhar Sajjad Rony spun Chittagong to take a 78-run first innings lead against Sylhet as the hosts were all out for 137 runs after resuming the day at 54 for three.  Rony, who is also popular among his teammates for his ability to extract prodigious turn, took five wickets to dismiss the hosts cheaply.

At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Nasir Hossain took the charge for Rangpur as he was batting on 93 to keep his side strong position in reply to Barisal’s 335 in the first innings.