Ariful was at the crease playing 181 balls and hitting 12 boundaries and one six and skipper Sajedul Islam [2* off 9b] was pairing him in the 6th wicket when the bails were drawn for the first day.
Besides his individual score, Ariful shared 195 runs off 56.1 overs with Naeem Islam [92 off 192b; 10x4; 1x4] in the 5th wicket stand. Opener Jahid Jabed [62 off 93b; 9x4] was another big hitter for Rangpur Division.
Sohag Gazi [2/88], Monir Hossain [1/23], Salman Hossain [1/24] and Kamrul Islam Rabbi [1/61] shared wickets for Barisal Division.
Toss: Barisal Division elected to bowl first.
Dhaka Metropolis vs Sylhet Division
In another league match of the four-day first class affair, Shadman Islam hammered 157 for Dhaka Metropolis’ collection of 332/4 * in 88 overs at stumps in the 1st innings against Sylhet Division after the first day’s paly of their Tier-2 round-1 match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Mehrab Hossain Jr [28* off 32b; 2x4; 1x6] and former national team captain Mohammad Ashraful [1* off 17b] were at the crease when the bails were drawn for the day.
Opener Shadman was brilliant in his innings of 283balls as he hit 20 boundaries and two sixes, alongside sharing a 112 runs off 37.2 overs in the opening stand with Shykat Ali [42 off 104b; 5x4] before building another 112-run partnership from 23.2 overs in the second wicket stand with Shamsur Rahman [34 off 69b; 4x4].
Before being caught by Sayem Alam off Shahanur Rahman on 286/3 in 77.3 overs, Shadman shared another partnership of 62 off 17.1 overs with captain Marshall Ayub [50 off 84b; 3x4], who was another big hitter for Dhaka Metropolis.
Shahanur [2/61], Enamul Haque Jr [1/118] and Abu Jayed [1/46] were the wicket takers for Sylhet Division.
Toss: Sylhet Division elected to bowl first.
Rajshahi vs Khulna
Rajshahi Division were trailing by 88 runs with nine wickets remaining in the 1st innings after day-1, replying to defending champions Khulna Division’s 210/10 in 52.3 overs, including Tushar Imran’s century of 104, in the Tier-1 match at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi.
Mizanur Rahman [74* off 88b; 13x4] and Junaid Siddique [1* off 1b] were at stumps with 122/1 in 29 overs for Rajshahi when the bails were drawn for the first day.
Opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto [46 off 86b; 6x4] was bowled out by Afif Hossain at 117/1 in 28.2 overs.
Earlier in Khulna Div’s innings, Tushar featured 14 boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 144 balls while Anamul Haque [26 off 15b; 6x4], Nahidul Islam [26 off 49b; 4x4], Soumya Sarkar [13 off 50b; 1x4] were other double digit scorers for the defending champions.
Shafiul Islam captured five wickets for 43 runs in 12 overs while Sunzamul Islam [2/25], Delwar Hossain [2/33] and Farhad Reza [1/60] shared the remaining five wickets for Rajshahi.
Toss: Khulna Division elected to bat first.
Chattogramvs Dhaka Div
Chattogram Division were trailing by 213 runs with 8 wickets in hands in the 1st innings of the Tier-2 match after day-1 against Dhaka Division’s 238/10 in 81 overs at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
Opener Sadiqur Rahman [23* off 16b; 3x4] and Tasamul Haque [2* off 16b] were at the pitch with Chattogram Division score of 25/2 in 7 overs at stumps.
Shahadat Hossain removed both the wickets for duck, conceding 18 runs in four overs for Dhaka Division.
Earlier, Taibur Rahman [63 off 93b; 6x4] and opening batsman Rony Talukdar [59 off 143b; 4x4; 2x4] hit their half centuries for Dhaka Division.
Jubair Hossain got five wickets for 61 runs in 16 overs while Nayeem Hasan [3/74] and Hasan Mahmud [2/36] shared the remaining five wickets for Chattogram Division.
Toss: Chattogram Division elected to bowl first.