Miraz, Saifuddin, Yasir shine on opening day

Courtesy of Yasir Ali's assertive 80, Islami Bank East Zone thrashed last season's winners Central Zone by 114 runs in the opening day of the 10th Bangladesh Cricket League at BKSP's ground 3 in Savar today. In the other game at BKSP, skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz bagged a fifer to get South Zone off to a winning start against Mahmudullah Riyad's North Zone.

With the India ODIs on the horizon, the majority of the national stars played in the BCL one-day matches today.

Asked to bat, East Zone lost Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Imrul Kayes early. Pacer Robiul Haque, who finished with 27 for two in 10 overs, then removed Tamim Iqbal with a delivery that shaped away to leave East Zone in a spot of bother, at 46 for three.

Tamim (R) and Joy during their stay in the middle. Photo: BCB

Afterwards, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Afif Hossain put on a 54-run stand before the latter perished for 27. Mushfiqur departed after a 77-ball 44 but Yasir's 73-ball 80 helped East Zone tally 254. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam cleaned up the tail to scalp four wickets.

In reply, Mahedi Hasan bagged early wickets of Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, and Mominul Haque before Ebadot Hossain rampaged with a four-fer to bundle Central Zone out for 140. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a team-high 38.

For North Zone, Mohammad Saifuddin's fifer went in vain as fifties from Mohammad Naim and Towhid Hridoy saw South Zone reach 199 all out. In-form Taskin Ahmed picked a brace. 

Saifuddin celebrates a dismissal. Photo: BCL

Taskin Ahmed firing one in. Photo: BCB

Aside from Shamim Hossain's 42, there were no notable contributions from North Zone batters as they were bowled out for 127 to hand South Zone a 72-run win with Miraz bagging five.