Saif takes form to BNCL

Opener Saif Hassan took his impeccable form to the Bangabandhu 22nd National Cricket League (BNCL) through which regular domestic cricket returned in the country yesterday after a long coronavirus-induced gap.

The right-hander, who was the player-of-the-series in Bangladesh Emerging Team's recently-concluded multi-format series against Ireland Wolves, scored a century, helping Dhaka Division amass a total of 297 for eight against Rangpur Division on the opening day of the country's oldest first-class domestic competition at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar.

Had it not been for Saif's 233-ball 127, things could have taken a bleak turn for Dhaka. After electing to bat, Dhaka lost both their openers -- Abdul Mazid and Rony Talukdar -- inside first three overs to pacers Mukidul Islam and Alauddin Babu without adding anything on the scoreboard.  

Saif then strung together a 79-run stand with Mahidul Islam to steady the rocking ship. But after Mahidul (47 off 91) fell prey to Mahmudul Hasan in the 28th over, Dhaka once again lost two quick wickets -- those of Taibur Rahman and Shuvagata Hom -- and were staring at a batting collapse.

It once again took a crucial 137-run sixth-wicket stand between Saif and skipper Nadif Chowdhury for Dhaka to get back into the game. However, Rangpur's star bowler Babu removed both Saif and Nadif (69 off 105) in one over before stumps and tilted the momentum back towards Rangpur. Babu finished with impressive figures of four for 25.

Meanwhile, at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, veterans Imrul Kayes and Tushar Imran missed out on centuries by agonising margins but helped Khulna score 308 for seven against Sylhet Division. Kayes was removed by pacer Abu Jayed after a 127-ball 90 in the 44th over while Tushar was run-out in the final session of the day on 99.

At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, young Shahadat Hossain's unbeaten 88 and fifties from Yasir Ali (63 off 119) and Mahedi Hasan Rana (55 off 101) at the death spared the blushes of Chattogram Division as they finished with a respectable score of 256 for seven against Rajshahi in Tier 2.

In the other Tier 2 game, Barishal were bundled out for a small total of 241 after electing to bat against Dhaka Metropolis. Mohammad Ashraful top-scored with 48 for Barishal while pacer Abu Hider and spinner Rakibul Hasan bagged three wickets each.

Dhaka, in reply, lost the wicket of Anisul Islam and will resume the second day on 29 for one, trailing by 212 runs.