Dhaka in dire straits
CricBD Staff
13 March, 2007
Title aspirants Dhaka fought back following a dramatic batting collapse in the tenth and final round match of the National Cricket League on Tuesday when the home side reduced Khulna to 88-7 in the second innings at close of second day.
Dhaka looked to be totally out of the race when they were all out for a meagre 87 in their first innings in reply to the visitors' 288 at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, which saw a total of 19 wickets fall on the day.
Left-arm spinner Manzarul Islam Rana ran havoc in the Dhaka first innings with a five-wicket haul but Khulna's decision to bat again in spite of a 201-run lead instead of forcing a follow-on proved fatal. With two days remaining, they had a handy lead of 289.
Title contenders Rajshahi, who started the decisive last round level on 36 points with Dhaka, however, took an edge against Chittagong at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium as the tourists were within sight of taking a first-innings lead.
DHAKA-KHULNA
Young pacer Mohammad Azim captured the last wicket in the fourth over of the morning to return with figures of 5-54 as Khulna ended on 288, having added just two runs to their overnight score. But it only paved the way for Khulna new ball bowler Ziaur Rahman and Manzarul Rana to rip through the Dhaka first innings.
Ziaur started the carnage with three wickets for 29 runs in 13 overs while Manzarul was the wrecker in chief by claiming five wickets for 25 runs from very tidy 22 overs.
Azim, however, did not lose heart by his team's disappointing batting performance as he grabbed three wickets to see Khulna tottering in their second innings. Sharifullah took two wickets.
Dhaka needed something special to turn the table and regain the title but the fact is that inform Manzarul was still at the crease on one.
CHITTAGONG-RAJSHAHI
Chittagong rode on a 141-run opening partnership between Gazi Salahuddin and Nafees Iqbal to score 239-6 before stumps were drawn with the hosts still 108 runs behind Rajshahi's first innings total.
Salahuddin scored 79 off 114 balls with the help of a dozen fours while Nafees chipped in with 77 off 171 deliveries that saw nine fours and a six. Despite the bold start, the home team lost their way as Sohrawardi Shuvo picked up three wickets for 57 runs. Elias Sunny was batting on 31.
Earlier Arif Hossain remained not out on 42 as Rajshahi were all out for 347 after resuming on 325-9.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Rajshahi first innings 347 all out in 93.3 overs (Rabiul 18, Junaid 9, Farhad Hossain 11, Naeem 68, Anisur 36, Mushfiq 31, Hasanuzzaman 28, Farhad Reza 55, Shuvo 26, Arif 42 not out, Sumon 9, extras 14, Waskuruni 2-14, Saju 4-124, Sunny 2-43, Sabbir 1-95, Dhiman 1-29); Chittagong first innings 239-6 in 83.4 overs (Salahuddin 79, Nafis 77, Mintu 19, Sunny 31 not out, Ehsanul 16, Faisal 6, Dhiman 0, extras 11; Naeem 1-14, Shuvo 3-57, Arif 1-50).
Khulna: 288 and 88-7 in 38.1 overs (Sadat 9, Sajjadul 3, Monirul 18, Asadullah 28, Jamal 0, Salim 14, Manzarul 1 not out, Imrul 4, extras 11; Azim 3-28, Nazmul 1-17, Sharifullah 2-23).
Dhaka first innings: 87 all out in 45 overs (Uttam 10, Anwar 8, Al-Shahriar 7, Shamsur 4, Marshal 27, Sharifullah 1, Sajjad 0, Rashedul 16 not out, Nazmul 1, Mahbubul 8, Azim 1, extras 4; Ziaur 3-29, Manzarul 5-25, Fahim 2-24).