BSS, Dhaka :
Zakir Hasan struck a scintillating 158 as South Zone kept them aloft over Islami Bank East Zone on day three of the first round game of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Tuesday.
Resuming the day on 288-6, South Zone were bowled out for 429 in its first innings, taking an overall lead of 169 runs.
East Zone which were wrapped up for 260 in the first innings, reached 195-5 in the second innings at stumps on third day.
With five wickets at hands, they had now just 26 runs lead with Afif Hossain batting on 73 and Muktar Ali on 18. Much will depend on Afif to set a challenging target for South Zone on the final day today. South Zone began the day in disappointing fashion with Mahedi Hasan being dismissed for 32, adding just four runs to his overnight total.
But Zakir brought up his ninth century, resuming the day on 91 and got an ably support from Nasum Ahmed, who went on to score 59. Zakir and Nasum combined for a 104-run for the ninth wicket stand to help South Zone earn a strong lead that made the task tougher for East Zone.
Zakir finally clubbed 19 fours and two sixes for his 158 for which he faced 276 deliveries. Nayeem Hasan, Enamul Haque and Mohammad Ashraful took three wickets apiece for East Zone. Most of the East Zone batters got a start after starting the side’s second innings with a deficit of 169 runs. But they simply couldn’t convert it to a big score.
