Tushar crosses 9,000 runs

Veteran batsman Tushar Imran breezed to his 22nd hundred and passed 9,000 first-class runs during Prime Bank South Zone's fourth-round Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) fixture against BCB North Zone at the BKSP yesterday.

In the day's other game at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Abu Jayed was the highlight. He ripped through Walton Central Zone's top order with a four-wicket haul. If he gets one more wicket on the second day of the ongoing fourth round today, he will have bagged his fifth five-wicket haul in the last seven first-class matches, which is quite a feat. 

All eyes were on Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes at the BKSP yesterday. For Soumya it was a chance to work on his form, while for Imrul it was an opportunity to prove that he was fit for the Sri Lanka series. Both batsmen, however, disappointed with the bat on a flat deck.

While the bowlers did extract a bit of movement in the morning, it was not a difficult track to bat on. Soumya was run-out by a close-in fielder for 26 and Imrul was trapped in front for 31. Tushar then put on an unbeaten century stand with Shahriar Nafees, who reached 50 by stumps yesterday, to help South Zone revive and finish the day on 292 for three. While Tushar hit two sixes and 14 fours, Nafees hit one six and three fours. The duo put on 158 runs for the fourth wicket and threatens to extend that stand today.

At Fatullah, Central were reduced to 232 for seven by Islami Bank East Zone thanks to a great morning spell from Abu Jayed, who removed the top four Central batsmen within the first 32 overs. Central were reduced to 75 for four and would have ended the day on a worse note had Shuvagata Hom and Nurul Hasan not posted scores of 46 and 65. Nurul hit 65 off 88 balls with two sixes and seven fours. It was an aggressive innings but he eventually was bowled by Afif Hossain with around 10 overs remaining in the day. Former national player Abul Hasan got the remaining scalp of the day.