Liton lashes through the gloom

Despite cyclone 'Titli' causing rain to play foul in all four games on the third day of the second round of the National Cricket Leagu, Liton Das shone bright in Rajshahi as the right-hander smashed the fastest double hundred in Bangladesh first-class cricket for Rangpur yesterday.

The 23-year-old, who held the record for the previous fastest double-ton -- off 190 balls -- broke his own record and registered his second double-hundred in just 140 balls in the Tier-1 game against Rajshahi.

The right-hander reached the feat in no time as he smashed consecutive boundaries off Mohor Sheikh to reach 192, then struck a six and a four off left-arm spinner Taijul to achieve the feat in style.

Liton however was dismissed off the very next ball after scoring 203 off 142, which included 32 fours and four sixes and helped Rangpur stage a comeback in their second innings before rain forced an end to the day's play on 312 for two and a second-innings deficit of 119 runs.

Liton announced his intentions from the start, reaching his fifty in 44 balls and smashing his 13th hundred in just 88 balls.

Earlier, Rajshahi resumed the day on 419 for two and declared their first innings on 589 for four. Junaid Siddique was the third batsman to strike a hundred in the innings after Nazmul Hossain and Mizanur Rahman.

In the other Tier-1 game at the Sheikh Abu Naser stadium in Khulna, rain limited play to only 41.1 overs and that was enough for Khulna's Ziaur Rahman to notch his eighth first-class hundred against Barishal. The all-rounder was eventually dismissed on 112 off 246 balls with 13 fours and a six.

The overnight batsmen, Zia and Afif Hossain, added 155 for the seventh wicket with the latter remaining unbeaten on 81 as Khulna posted 349 for seven before play was called off.

In the Tier-2 game in Fatullah, Dhaka Metropolis's Shadman Islam was unable to register his maiden double ton as the left-hander was dismissed for 189 runs against Dhaka Division.

Dhaka Metro then lost their way and lost the last five wickets for just 63 runs to be dismissed for 387.

Left-arm seamer Salauddin Akil bagged four wickets while Shahadat Hossain and Nazmul Islam took two each for the bowling side.

In reply, Dhaka also faced the music and were struggling on 50 for two, trailing by 131 runs in their second innings.

The third day's play of the other Tier-2 game between Chattogram and Sylhet in Cox's Bazar was abandoned without a single ball bowled.

HIGHLIGHTS

Liton Das recorded the fastest double hundred by a Bangladeshi batsman in first class cricket, continuing his brilliant form after smashing a maiden ODI century against India in the final of the Asia Cup. The stylish right-hander, who himself held the previous record of 190 balls, smashed his second double ton off just 140.

23-year-old Shadman Islam, who was eyeing a maiden double hundred after resuming on 186, was unable to achieve the feat. The left-hander added just three runs before being dismissed.

All-rounder Ziaur Rahman, who is known for his hard-hitting batsmanship, displayed his ability in longer-version cricket with a patient hundred which came off 231 deliveries. It was the 31-year-old's eighth first class hundred and helped his side get the all-important first innings lead.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

KHULNAv BARISHAL 

BARISHAL: First innings 266

KHULNA: First innings 349 for 7 (Ziaur 112, Afif 81 not out; Kamrul 2-44, Gazi 2-100)

RANGPUR v RAJSHAHI

RANGPUR: First innings 151 and second innings 319 for 2 in 49 (Liton 203, Mahmudul 72 not out; Shafiqul 1-60)

RAJSHAHI: First innings 589 for 4 decl (Nazmul 173, Mizanur 165, Junaid 100; Sajedul 1-78)

DHAKA DIVISION v DHAKA METRO 

DHAKA DIVISION: First innings 206 and second innings 50 for 2 (Saif 27 not out; Hider 1-16 )

DHAKA METRO: First innings 387 all out (Shadman 189, Ashraful 49; Salauddin 4-80, Shahadat 2-64)

CHATTOGRAM v SYLHET 

CHATTOGRAM: First innings 282 for 9 (Sadikur 106, Nasir 84; Shahanur 3-58, Jayed 2-53) 

Day 3 cancelled due to rain.