National opener Imrul Kayes sent early warning for national selectors with a brilliant 136 for South Zone against East Zone on the first day of four-day Bangladesh Cricket League held on Sunday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
National Selectors did not include Imrul Kayes for the forthcoming Test match against Sri Lanka citing that he lacks match practice after the south paw opener returned from the injury.
Chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu however assured that if Imrul was found to be match fit , he will be drafted for the second Test in Colombo.
South Zone electing to bat would have been in big trouble if Imrul had not scored a brilliant 136 and opener Anamul 58 as they were restrict to 296 all out in 80 overs in their first innings.
In reply East Zone was four for no loss in the remaining eight overs when the stumps were drawn for the day one.
Imrul Kayes scored his superb 136 runs off 210 balls and his innings was studded with eighteen glorious boundaries and two sixers.
Anamul Haque at the top looked in good nick but fell after scoring 58 aggressive runs off 73 deliveries laced with eight well timed boundaries and one sixer.
Ziaur Rahman with 21 and Nazmul Islam with unbeaten 23 were the other notable South Zone batters.
Saqlain Sajib was the leading East Zone bowler with three for 17. He was well supported by Mohammad Saifuddin with three for 70. Nayeem, Afif, Ferdous and Alok Kapali chipped in with one wicket each for the East Zone.
Brief score:
South Zone 1st innings: 296 all out. Imrul Kayes 136, Anamul Haque 58, Nazmul with 23 not out. Saqlain Sajib 3/17, Saifuddin 3/70.
East Zone Ist innings: 4 for no loss. Imtiaz 4 batting, Afif 0 batting.
