BSS, Dhaka :
Walton Central Zone earned the double crown after clinching the Independence Cup trophy, securing a six-wicket win over BCB South Zone in the final on Saturday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Central Zone earlier won the title of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), the premier first class tournament of the country, beating the same opposition.
The four teams of the BCL also took part in the one-day format game, which was named Independence Cup to mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.
By winning those two titles, Central Zone completed the double.
Put into bat first, South Zone were bowled out for just 163 in 48.5 overs, a score that Central Zone overhauled with relatively ease, making 164-4 in 42.3 overs.
Al-Amin Hossain scored an unbeaten 53 while captain Mosaddek Hossain made 33 not out. The duo shared an 88-run partnership for the undefeated fifth wicket stand to sail the side home.
Openers Mizaur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar gave Central Zone a fluent start, adding 65-run. The stand was broken with the dismissal of Soumya who made 21. After his dismissal, Central Zone faced a hiccup that saw them being reduced to 76-4, losing three wickets for 11 runs. That also included the wicket of Mizanur who contributed 39.
But Mosaddek and Al-Amin played with much patience in difficult wicket to help the side race to the victory. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed took 3-34 and Mahedi Hasan picked up one wicket for South Zone.
Mosaddek Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Hasan Murad and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury shared the 10 wickets of South Zone, taking two wickets apiece, which showed how united their bowling group was.
Most of the South Zone batters got a start but couldn’t carry on against this disciplined bowling attack. Opener Pinak Ghosh was the highest scorer for the side with 35 while Nahidul Islam made 31.
