Islami Bank East Zone clinched the title of the first edition of one-day format Bangladesh Cricket League beating BCB North Zone by 3 wickets in the final via D/L method at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Mahmudul Hasan hit a century of 107 runs for BCB North Zone, but his efforts went in vain as his side conceded the defeat.
Sent in to bat first, BCB North scored a formidable score of 291 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs, riding on the fourth wicket stand of 140 runs in 23.2 overs between centurions Mahmudul Hasan and Nasir Hossain.
Mahmudul Hasan’s century came off 132 balls with 11 fours while Nasir Hossain hit 96 runs off 84 balls featuring eight fours and two sixes.
BCB North faced an early jolt losing two top order batsmen for 24 runs in 4.5 overs.
Bangladesh national team Test Captain Mushfiqur Rahim (31) was also dismissed before the team reached the 100-run mark when the scoreboard was showing 88 runs for 3 in 18.5 over.
Then national clean finisher cum BCB North skipper Nasir Hossian played painstaking innings with opener Mahmudul Hasan to carry the team total to 228 runs in 42.2 overs.
Delwar Hossain and Ariful Haque added 17 runs each to be the other double digit scorers for the side.
Asif Ahmed and Arafat Sunny grabbed two wickets each for 50 and 51 runs respectively in 8 and 10 overs.
Mominul Haque, Abul Hasan, Abu Jayed and Nabil Samad took one wicket each for 33, 40, 45 and 52 runs respectively in 6, 6, 6 and 10 overs.
While replying, Islami Bank East Zone lost their first wicket for 5 runs in 1.1 overs, but recovered nicely as the pair of skipper Mominul Haque and Liton Kumar carried the team total to 107 for 2 in 14.4 overs, contributing 105 runs in 13.3 overs in the second wicket stand.
After the departure of Liton Kumar, who hit 50 runs off 37 balls with six fours and two sixes, Mominul-Tasamul pair took the team total to 131, before the rain halted the match in 20 overs.
The target was revised for IB East Zone at 278 runs in 46 overs according to the D/L method.
Mominul Haque fell victim of run out scoring 78 runs off 77 balls featuring 10 fours at 163 in 27 overs.
In the seventh wicket stand, Asif Ahmed pairing with Abul Hasan who was adjudged man of the match contributed 55 runs in 9.2 overs to carry the team total to 241 for 7 in 42.2 overs.
After the departure of Asif Ahmed, Abul Hasan paired with Arafat Sunny contributed unbeaten 40 runs in 2.4 overs to reach the winning score of 281 runs in 45 overs.
Asif Ahmed scored 46 runs off 52 balls with four fours and one six while Abul Hasan hit unbeaten 39 runs off 35 balls with three fours and one six.
Number nine Arafat Sunny added not out 18 runs while Alok Kapali (13) and Tasamul Haque (11) were the other double digit scorers for the side.
Taijul Islam grabbed three wickets for 56 runs in 8 overs; Forhad Reza took two wickets for 58 runs in 9 overs and Delwar Hossain took one wicket for 40 runs in 7 overs.
Islami Bank East Zone pulled the title as unbeaten side while this was the first defeat for BCB North Zone in the four teams meet.
Brief Score:
Islami Bank East Zone: 281 for 7 in 45 overs; Mominul Haque 78, Liton Kumar 50, Asif Ahmed 46, Abul Hasan not out 39, Arafat Sunny not out 18, Taijul Islam 3/56, Forhad Reza 2/58, Delwar Hossain 1/40.
BCB North Zone: 291 for 9 in 50 overs; Mahmudul Hasan 107, Nasir Hossain 96, Mushfiqur Rahim 31, Delwar Hossain 17, Ariful Haque 17, Asif Ahmed 2/50, Arafat Sunny 2/51.
