Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter shone on the opening day of the Women's Bangladesh Cricket League - the first-ever three-day first-class competition in the women's game in the country - as the Central Zone player returned seven wickets for 48 runs against North Zone at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, North Zone declared their first innings at 240-9 after opener Farzana Haque top-scored with 86 off 246 balls, and Ritu Moni's 57. Central Zone finished at 29-0 at stumps.

Meanwhile, in the other contest at the Bangla Trac Cricket Academy Ground, Sharmin Akther Supta struck 88 off 101 balls but her side, East Zone, could only manage 193 runs in their first innings after being sent to bat by South Zone.

Ayesha Rahman made an unbeaten 82 off 120 balls while RH Jhelik scored 38 not out as South Zone finished the opening day at 164-1, trailing by 29 runs.