Meherob, Rahim’s 50 give Rajshahi edge over Sylhet

BSS, Dhaka :

SM Meherob and Rahim Ahmed hit half-centuries as Rajshahi division was held the edge over Sylhet on Day 1 of the sixth round of the National Cricket League (NCL) on Sunday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Meherob made team-best 56 while Rahim scored 51, steering the side to 236 before being all out in their first innings. Sylhet however ended the day with 35-2.

Put into bat first, Rajshahi tasted top order collapse that forced them losing five wickets for 121 runs. Rahim and Meherob added 58 runs for the sixth wicket to pave the side’s way to go past 200-run mark in an otherwise a tricky pitch.

Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad claimed 4-42 to wreck havoc on Rajshahi batting line up while pacer Abu Jayed Rahi continued his rich vein of form, taking 3-62.

Sylhet also lost two wickets cheaply before Captain Zakir Hasan helped the side see of the day without further fuss. Zakir was batting on 17 with Asadullah Galib on 2.

In the other match, Mohammad Mithun hit a half-century to save Khulna from the ultimate shamble against Dhaka Division on Day 1 of the sixth round of National Cricket League (NCL) at Khulna Divisional Stadium.

Thanks to Mithun’s 59, Khulna recovered from the collapse to put up 194 before being all out. But Dhaka were on course of taking a first innings lead after reaching 64-1 at stumps.

Anisul Islam Emon was batting on 35 with Foysal Ahmed on 17 after the loss of Joyraj Sheikh who made 8.

Sumon Khan and Mahfujur Rahman Rabby snapped up three wickets apiece to derail Khulna innings after they opted to bat first.

Mithun held together the innings following the departure of inform Soumya Sarkar (22) and Amit Mojumder (20). However, he got little support from the other end before Mahfujur removed him for 59 off 67, an innings studded with seven fours and three sixes. Sheikh Parvez Jibon was the other notable score for Khulna with 34.