Rajshahi Div retain nat’l cricket league title

Rajshahi Division retained the national cricket league title after making a draw with Chittagong Division in a five-day final that concluded Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, reports UNB.

This was the second consecutive and the third national crown for Rajshahi in the longer version cricket, the lone first class cricket of the country after 2005-06 and 2008-09 seasons.

Despite a draw in the title-deciding match, Khaled Mashud Pilot-led Rajshahi Division clinched the EBL 11th National Cricket League crown by virtue of first innings lead (71 runs) in the final frustrating Chittagong Division, the champions of the inaugural meet in 1999-2000.

Rajshahi Division resumed the 2nd innings on the 5th day (Wednesday) with overnight 177 for 2, taking an overall 248 runs overall lead against Chittagong, and finally declared the innings in the afternoon at 413 runs for 5 in 136.2 overs.

Two night-watch batsmen -- one down Jahurul Islam and number four Farhad Hossain -- contributed 101 runs in the 3rd wicket stand for Rajshahi, which were 229/2 at lunch and 325/5 at tea.

Jahurul Islam, who resumed batting with 67 runs, hammered a century making 117 runs off 306 balls with 17 boundaries while Farhad Hossain (13) scored a half century making 55 runs off 148 balls with five boundaries.

Number five batsman Nasir Hossain contributed not out 78 runs off 96 balls with 12 fours and a six while number seven bat wicket keeper Dhiman Ghosh made not out 54 off 73 balls with seven fours and a six

Faisal Hossain grabbed three wickets for 140 runs while Kazi Kamrul and Elias Sunny took one wicket apiece.

Brief score:

Rajshahi Division - 1st innings - 372 all out in 169 overs (overnight 208 for 5 in 90 overs); Dhiman Ghosh not out 66, Jahurul Islam 59, Khaled Mashud 55, Anisur Rahman 52, Sabbir Rahman 41, Sohrawardy Shuvo 32, Nasir Hossain 28, Farhad Hossain 11, extras 19, Abdullah Al Mamun 3/44, Elias Sunny 2/73, Kazi Kamrul 2/84, faisal Hossain 1/17, Mahmudul Hasan 1/47 and Alauddin Babu 1/71

Rajshahi Division - 2nd innings - 413 for 5 (Declared) in 136.2 overs(overnight 177 for 2 in 64 overs), Shuvo 68, Sabbir 20, Jahurul 117, Farhad batting 55, Nasir Hossain not out 78, Dhimon Ghosh not out 54, extras 13, Faisal 3/140 and Kamrul 1/48 and Elias Sunny 1/129.

Chittagong Division - 1st innings -- 301 for 10 in 123.3 overs, Gazi 19, Karim 25, Mamun 0, Nazim 80, Faisal 28, Hasan 0, Mominul 82 Elias batting 46, Irfan 0, Alauddin 1, Kamrul 3, extras 17, Shuvo 4/73, Saklain 3/62, Farhad 1/23, Shahajada 1/48, Shubashish 1/52.