South, Central in command

Walton Central Zone and Prime Bank South Zone finished the third day of the fourth round of the Bangladesh Cricket League in strong positions.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, BCB North Zone are following-on on a good batting surface after the brilliant double hundred that South Zone's Tushar Imran had scored earlier in the game.

While Tushar was the hero with the bat, it was Nahidul Islam who was their chief wicket-taker. North Zone were bundled out for 242 in 62.2 overs in their first innings with Nahidul finishing with figures of 5 for 104. South Zone skipper Abdur Razzak did a decent job as well, taking three scalps and ending with 3 for 74. The remaining wickets were taken by pacer Al-Amin Hossain, who finished with 2 for 23.

Dhiman Ghosh and Farhad Hossain were the key run-scorers for North Zone. While Dhiman scored 67, Farhad posted 56. Unfortunately for North Zone, neither of the batsmen managed to turn their scores into a big knock. They were both dismissed by Razzak before they could do any lasting damage.

The Northerners were asked to follow on and finished on 154 for 2 at the end of the day. Nahidul took the crucial wicket of opener Junaid Siddique, who was looking good on 46. It will be a tough ask for North Zone to survive the final day tomorrow, but if that is to happen they will need their star players, the likes of Nasir Hossain and Naeem Islam, to perform.

In the day's other game at the BKSP, East Zone were dismissed for 211 in reply to Central Zone's first innings total of 328. The pressure further mounted on East Zone with Central hammering 266 runs at a run-rate of close to 4.

Central ended the day with a lead of 383 and it is a surprise that they have not declared yet. However, there is a good chance that they will do so today and go for a win.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

CENTRAL ZONE V EAST ZONE

CENTRAL ZONE: 328 and 266 for 5 (Marshall 73, Taibur 55 not out; Mominul 2-40, Abul 1-29)

EAST ZONE: 211 all out in 67.1 overs (Yasir 48 not out, Abul 48; Sharif 4-59, Mosharraf 2-33, Shuvagata 2-51)

SOUTH ZONE V NORTH ZONE 

SOUTH ZONE: 501 

NORTH ZONE: 242 all out in 62.2 overs (Dhiman 67, Farhad 56; Nahidul 5-104, Razzak 3-74, Al-Amin 2-23) and 154 for 2 (Farhad 62, Junaid 46; Mosaddek 1-32, Nahidul 1-42)